There was a time when Terry Evans would dread a knock on the front door.
Not because he was in some kind of trouble, but because he might have to invite someone inside – into a dilapidated rented house he’d become embarrassed to live in.
His daughter didn’t want to go back there after school. He and his partner Sian were constantly stressed.
That’s all changed now. The doorstep dread has gone.
It’s because they are now in a different, newly renovated home on Rutland Street in Grimsby.
“It’s just a sense of pride – somewhere you can actually be pleased to invite someone in. It just gives you a sense of comfort, you can move forward,” he told Sky News.
It was made possible by East Marsh United, a grassroots community group that’s renovating wrecked houses and then managing the properties as compassionate landlords.
They describe it as a “community housing revolution”.
Vickii Goodwin is still buzzing about the difference her new home has made.
“It is absolutely amazing what they are doing,” Terry told us.
“It’s mad that they have to do it…you shouldn’t have to rely on a community group to make sure there is adequate housing for the local population.”
The tight rows of terraces in East Marsh used to house the workforce for Grimsby’s once thriving fishing docks.
The collapse of the industry led to decades of decay – it shows in so many parts of people’s lives – housing, health, job opportunities and crime.
Gary Leshone manages the property renovations on Rutland St.
“It used to be known as murder mile,” Paula Graves said as we walked along Rutland St.
The reputation as a crime hotspot stuck but is now an outdated idea according to those that live and work here.
Paula Graves runs the housing project for East Marsh United with a team determined to rebuild the properties and the pride here.
The community action group started out with brooms and buckets cleaning up the neighbourhood in 2017.
“Crime was rife but the community wanted to do something about it,” Paula said.
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“Housing was the big issue because of landlords who just didn’t care.”
She explained that investors had “just bought up properties en masse.
“Some are local but there are a lot who are from down south.
“We have got some that live in China – their portfolios are so big that they probably don’t even know they’ve got empty houses here.”
Undeterred by the murkiness of the housing system that had evolved here, East Marsh United could see that it wasn’t working for the community. In fact it was damaging it.
Their mission started when they were gifted three properties – they then hunted down any funding they could get hold of.
They are now on their tenth property – nine of them on Rutland St – but they would love to have more.
Gary Leshone works as a wind turbine engineer in Grimsby’s new and fast-growing renewable energy sector but he also manages the property renovations on Rutland St.
“I think there are about 300 houses on the East Marsh that are still empty and derelict now and nobody is living in, which we could be renovating and getting people in them within sometimes 6-8 weeks,” he told us.
“With the government, if you are waiting for them you will be waiting forever.”
Paula is also exasperated by the promises she hears ministers making on housing – normally around new build homes. They have shown here there are cheaper quicker solutions to be had.
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“OK, we are Grimsby and we are at the end of the road,” Paula said.
“But actually we are going to put ourselves on the map and say do you know what – you come and have a look at what we have done because we have achieved it.
“We have achieved it as a community not because this is how you have told us to do it.”
Vickii Goodwin moved into her new home on Rutland St last October and is still buzzing about the difference it has made.
‘It used to be known as murder mile,’ Paula Graves said while walking along Rutland St.
The 36-year-old mum can also now accept house guests and more fundamentally she believes it has changed her personality – she’s a happier person.
“When I moved in here it was like a fresh start, I realised I was capable of a lot more than what I was doing – so I actually got up and got a job.”
She’s now looking for the next one but is walking, talking evidence that with the right environment to live in good things can follow.
Ultimately the team running East Marsh United are helping to channel hope and optimism in their community.
It’s what politicians will also try to sell on the doorsteps here in the general election. Given how disillusioned people here feel with them, it’s hard to know whether they’ll be invited inside.
