Janine GriffithsA ten-year-old child from Harehills stood before a crowd in the heart of the city centre and delivered a blistering, heart-wrenching speech about trauma, homelessness, and survival, laying bare the brutal reality faced by too many in East Leeds.
It wasn’t a politician or seasoned activist speaking truth to power. It was Durzhin Jaf, a child who had survived a near-fatal car crash, a brutal assault in a public park, threats of violence in their own home – all while being failed by the very system meant to protect people like him.
“I’m 10 years old. I’ve lived through things no child should ever go through and I’m still standing,” said Durzhin. “The system is killing us. Not just physically but mentally.”
This powerful testimony was the emotional peak of a peaceful protest held on May 15 outside the St Johns Centre, Leeds, under the banner: In the Name of Love: An Urgent Call to Action. The demonstration, attended by children, disabled people, migrants, and local residents, shone a spotlight on the deep failings of the system and the growing crisis of housing inequality that marginalised communities in East Leeds face.
Children like the ten-year-old speaker are asking the city to be what it promises: child-friendly and compassionate. As Durzhin explained: “We all know Harehills is broken. We all know the system is broken. But I ask you: is this how we want to keep living?”
Organised by 4Sight and Equity Solutions, the protest brought together families who have endured overcrowding, discrimination, and long waits for housing assessments. Many shared harrowing personal stories of despair and hope.
“I was touched by the girl who was crying when she shared her struggles for housing and the British lady who was homeless and disabled from Birmingham,” said community organiser Chijioke Ojukwu. “I was proud of the community spirit.”
At the heart of the protest was a clear demand: reform a broken housing system that routinely fails the most vulnerable. A set of seven key demands, drawn from extensive community consultation and lived experience, were delivered to Leeds City Council. These include automatic Band A+ priority for parents of children with special needs who live in unsafe flats, a shorter timeframe for medical assessments, and transparency around the Homeless Prevention Grant, among other things.
The protest was not only a platform for pain – it was also a powerful expression of resistance and unity. Colourful banners, children’s artwork, and speeches in multiple languages filled the space with energy and resolve.
“The demonstration was a really important and joyful show of collective power, and resistance to being silenced,” said Lizzy Oma, one of the participants.
The demands also highlight institutional racism in housing services. Campaigners say people of colour, especially those with English as a second language, are disproportionately subjected to delays, denials, and dehumanising treatment by some housing associations, local authorities and landlords.
One of the boldest suggestions from the campaigners was a call for “healing through naming” – renaming rooms in public buildings after victims of unfair treatment, as a gesture of restorative justice.
“The event was such a beautiful and dynamic example of community organising with a purpose,” said Ojukwu, adding: “Giving voice to both children and adults to express their hopes and dreams of fair housing.”
As the demonstrators dispersed, the message remained: this wasn’t the end, but the beginning of a larger movement. One rooted in love, dignity, and the belief that everybody, regardless of race, ability, or background, deserves a safe place to call home.
What are the 7 housing demands?
- Housing for Special Needs Children: Stop housing special needs children in unsafe council flats and implement policy by Oct 2025.
- Priority Housing Status: Automatically give Band A+ priority to parents of special needs children in flats, starting with long-term residents.
- Faster Assessments: Improve speed and quality of medical and homelessness assessments; aim for completion in 3–4 weeks.
- Transparency in Homeless Prevention Grant: Increase public accountability and dialogue on how the grant is used.
- Fairer Local Letting Policy: Waive local connection rules for vulnerable migrants and refugees, especially those who have children with special needs.
- Promote Direct Lettings: Publicise and expand use of direct lettings for vulnerable families and publish monthly data for accountability.
- Restorative Justice Naming: Name community rooms after victims of unfair treatment to promote healing and institutional learning.
