Following our press release at the end of 2025 (31st Dec. 2025: City Council must offer shelter for street homeless people now), and our long-standing campaigning to secure rights and safety for street homeless people in Manchester, we are sharing the news that Manchester City Council (MCC) announced on the 11th March this year that they are opening up a disused office block in South Manchester to provide new temporary accommodation for more than 50 homeless families. 

The statement issued by MCC says that, 'The new accommodation will see families supported by an accommodation team based on site to help them move on as quickly as possible into permanent settled tenancies.' 

Earlier in March 2026, ITV Granada featured RAPAR's work with street homeless people, many of whom are in the UK seeking refuge. This piece included an interview with RAPAR's founder, Dr Rhetta Moran, who underscored the global turmoil that forces people to flee and seek asylum elsewhere, the UK's hostile environment's dangerous and divisive rhetoric around immigration, and the fundamental need for and right to suitable housing for everyone. 

RAPAR welcomes MCC's initiative and its capacity to reduce street homelessness for vulnerable people and families. Critically, MCC promises to move people to secure, appropriate and permanent accommodation as soon as possible, fulfilling its statutory duty. 

​We call for more disused properties to be repurposed for temporary shelter for Manchester's street homeless population and we hope for MCC's continued commitment to finding permanent housing for those in need. 

 

STOP PRESS: VICTORY ✊🏾✊

On Monday 29th June Salford City Council have withdrawn their safeguarding decision that Ameen was deemed a risk to young people.

Ameen thanks everyone for their fantastic support for the campaign including MPs, such as Salford MP Rebecca Long Bailey, Councillors, senior figures in the trade union movement, Andrea Egan (UNISON general secretary) and Paul Novak (TUC General Secretary).

However we need to keep the pressure up until Ameen is back in work

After the withdrawal of their racist safeguarding decision, the campaign now calls for Salford Council to:

* Lift Ameen's suspension and allow him to return to work
* Implement measures to challenge discrimination, including in-person anti racist training.
* Address the under-representation of black workers within the council’s workforce and protect them from harm
* ⁠Outline measures to protect members against malicious racist complaints from the far right.

Petition, trade union motion and campaign materials here ⬇️
https://linktr.ee/DefendAmeenSalfordUNISON

RAPAR co-founder, Ameen Hadi speaks before entering Salford City Council offices for a grievance meeting against the Council on 27 May 2026

RAPAR representative Rhetta Moran addresses the solidarity rally for Ameen Hadi before a grievance meeting against the Salford City Council in front of the council's offices on 27 May 2026

UPDATE ON 22nd May 2026: 
Lobby Salford Council: 8am Wednesday 27th May

Salford Civic Centre, Swinton, M27 5AD
​
Defend Ameen Hadi & Salford City UNISON against the Far Right Campaign is asking you to attend this Lobby to demand Ameen’s reinstatement. 

We also need to reaffirm that there is No Place for Racism in Salford, after the election of 14 Reform UK councillors. 

Please bring your Trade Union & Campaign banners. 

​Let’s all stand in Solidarity with Ameen & Salford City UNISON!
​
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Ameen Hadi is an honest, principled and intensely committed political activist who works to advance all forms of human rights and, by the same token, is a tenacious, insightful and tireless campaigner against all forms of human rights violations. We know. In 2001, Ameen was a founding member of our human rights organization, RAPAR. When the organization was formally launched in the City of Salford Council chambers, Ameen was integral to those proceedings and, through his workplace roles as a community safety officer and a trade union representative, he has worked in partnership with RAPAR ever since.

The attempt to manipulate footage in order to criminalise Ameen by casting him in the role of a man who raises his hand for anything but a vote for strike action, in self defence, or to protect others, is anathema. That is, the allegation is loathsome, as loathsome as the fascists who have made it.

At this juncture, RAPAR is deeply disappointed and disturbed by the position taken by his employer, Salford City Council and unequivocally calls for their immediate lifting of the disciplinary investigation, to be followed swiftly by their wholehearted pledge to protect and support him in his battle – which is our battle – to clear his name.

RAPAR Chair of Trustees, Farid Vahidi says: “RAPAR is no stranger to unscrupulous attempts to attack the personal reputations of any and all of our members who walk the walk of achieving equal human rights as well as talk the talk. Ameen is such a member and our support for him is unconditional. We stand shoulder to shoulder with you Ameen, as you have always stood with us. Solidarity.”

UPDATE ON 20th MARCH: from actionnetwork.org:

Defend Ameen Hadi and Salford City UNISON against the Far Right

We, the undersigned, stand in solidarity with trade unionist and lifelong anti racist campaigner Ameen Hadi. He has been placed under investigation by Salford City Council, following a malicious allegation, driven by far right YouTubers and Fascist Tommy Robinson, after a TOGETHER unity rally in Manchester on International Women’s Day.

Full Video evidence from the day clearly shows that the claims against Ameen are unfounded.

A newly elected woman MP, Hannah Spencer, was abused, intimidated and threatened by a number of far right agitators. Ameen was surrounded and attacked. It is unacceptable that he is now facing investigation from his employer Salford City Council.

These far right, monetised YouTubers have regularly disrupted, abused and physically attacked a number of campaigns including: the Manchester Climate Justice demonstration; Palestine vigils; the MP Zarah Sultana and stewards at a Stop the War meeting; people defending refugees outside hotels, as well as targeting asylum seekers and other vulnerable groups.

They have also made numerous abusive, racist, homophobic, anti trans comments and threats of violence to Salford City UNISON Branch officers and their families, resulting in the temporary closure of the branch office on grounds of safety.

Signatories include:

John McDonnell MP; Kim Johnson MP; John Hendy, KC and Member of House of Lords; Maryam Eslamdoust, TSSA General Secretary; Sarah Woolley, BFAWU General Secretary; Mark Thomas, NUJ, Campaigner and Broadcaster; Lamin Touray. Actor and Anti Racist campaigner; Daren Ireland, Asst Gen Sec RMT; Martin Cavanagh, PCS president; Mary Doolin, NW Regional Secretary PCS; Marianne Owens, PCS Vice President; Cecile Menard, UCU Scotland Vice President; Mohammed Shafiq, PCS Chair: National Black Members' Committee & DWP Group Vice President; Weyman Bennett, Co-convenor, Stand Up To Racism; Cllr Nathaniel Tetteh, Salford; Cllr John Warmisham, Salford; Cllr Robert Sharpe, Salford; Cllr Chioma Mgbeokwere, Salford; Lee Hunter, Chair, NW FBU; Patrick Brennan, FBU Brigade Organiser, Greater Manchester; Dr C H Bryant, Salford UCU Branch Secretary; Kath Grant, Manchester & Salford , NUJ Branch Secretary; Gawain Little, General Secretary, General Federation of Trade Unions; Glyn Ford, Former MEP, ANL; Kevin Courtney, ex General Secretary NEU; Lindsey German, Stop the War Convernor; Jaffer Hussain, Chair NW UNISON Black Members Committee; Cllr Michael Lavalette, Preston; Simon Thomas, Unite, Stagecoach Stockport Branch Secretary; Kenny Watson, UNITE Branch Secretary; Sohayalla Wilson, Chair NW Unite Region BAEM Committee; Alison Carrington, Unite the Union Branch Secretary Tameside Hospital; Nasar Malik, Trustee Cheadle Masjid; Greater Manchester Stand Up to Racism; Women Against the Far Right North West, GM Climate Justice Coalition.
​
The Campaign has received widespread support from MPs, councillors, national, regional and local trade union leaders and bodies such as numerous NEC and regional representatives from UCU, UNISON, NEU, UNITE, as well as campaigners and faith groups

We call for:
• The immediate end to disciplinary proceedings against Ameen
• A clear commitment from Salford City Council and other public bodies that far-right harassment and intimidation campaigns, will not be allowed to dictate disciplinary process against trade unionists and anti-racist activists
• Salford City Council to investigate and report any threatening or abusive emails.
• Support for the Lobby of Salford City Council, called by Salford City UNISON in Defence of Ameen and UNISON on Wednesday 18th March 8am at Swinton Civic Centre, M27 5AW.
• As part of challenging the far right, everyone to join The Together Alliance March in London on 28th March https://www.togetheralliance.org.uk/

Send messages of support to [email protected]