Maureen and Kids in Bnb 1974
Maureen and Kids in Bnb 1974
A black-and-white interview video by Fantasy Factory, featuring Maureen and her two children, Melissa and Matthew, discussing their struggles with finding adequate housing in North west London. Filmed in the bread-and-breakfast that the family rent, the video opens with them all sitting on a bunk bed, as they discuss the room’s insufficient space and the hotel’s distance from the children’s schools. As the interviewer asks about their experience with squatting, both Matthew and Melissa speak passionately about being name-called, with Matthew saying it's deterred him from squatting, and Melissa saying she’s open to, if the council fails to provide housing within six months. Maureen goes on to speak about her reasons for leaving the last squat in Kentish Town’s St Leonard’s Square, expressing that its location within a cul-de-sac, of which only five out of 40 houses were being squatted, meant they were unable to retain privacy, ultimately creating a “pressure cooker” effect that became unsuitable for the children. The last part of the video in an interview with only Maureen, where she discusses her options: seeking advice from the Student Community Housing or returning to squatting.