Glasgow Women's Housing Association facts for kids
The Glasgow Women's Housing Association (GWHA) was formed in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1914. It was started by groups like the Independent Labour Party Housing Committee and the Women's Labour League. They created GWHA because rent prices were rising fast and homes were becoming very crowded. This problem got even worse when the First World War began.
| Abbreviation | GWHA |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Independent Labour Party Housing Committee, Women's Labour League |
| Formation | 1914 |
| Founded at | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Type | Non-governmental organisation |
| Purpose | campaigned for subsidised housing ; criticised profiteering by landlords; challenged the lack of municipal housing due to speculative urban development |
| Methods | Rent Strikes; marches and speeches, protest leaflets and latterly engagement with the legislative process |
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Key people
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Mary Burns Laird, Mary Barbour, Agnes Dollan, Helen Crawfurd, Jessie Ferguson |
The Women's Labour League, which included Jessie Ferguson, helped create housing groups in different parts of Glasgow. These groups then joined the GWHA. The GWHA was not linked to any political party. However, it fought for affordable housing. It also spoke out against landlords who charged too much rent. The GWHA also criticized the lack of public housing. This was often due to people buying land just to make money.
The GWHA played a key role in organizing the Glasgow Rent Strike of 1915. This strike was a major effort to fight for fair housing. Because of these rent strikes, the Rent Act of 1915 was passed. Later, the GWHA helped improve the Housing and Town Planning Act of 1919. This act helped create more public housing after the war.
Contents
Why Housing Became a Big Problem
Most homes in Glasgow were owned by private landlords. Many people lived in tenements. These were large buildings with many families. They often shared a common staircase and toilet. There were no private bathrooms inside the flats.
Glasgow's industries, like shipbuilding, grew very fast. Many men also left to fight in the war. This caused the city's population to grow quickly. Because of this, there were not enough homes. Landlords then raised rents on their tenement flats. Some rents went up by as much as 25%. Women, who often managed the homes, faced eviction if they could not pay. This meant they could be forced out by bailiffs.
This big rent increase made people very angry. As a result, a rent strike began. The GWHA led the Glasgow Rent Strike of 1915. At its busiest, about 20,000 people joined the strike. The actions of Glasgow women inspired other working-class communities across the UK.
Key Leaders of the GWHA
Mary Burns Laird was the first President of the GWHA. She led the first meeting in February 1915 in Govan. Other important leaders included Mary Barbour, Agnes Dollan, Helen Crawfurd, and Jessie Ferguson. Agnes Dollan was the association's Treasurer.
GWHA members strongly protested against "House Factors." These were agents who collected rent for landlords. They were often the ones evicting families. The GWHA successfully got support from factory workers. These workers helped Mary Barbour and the GWHA demand money back from the Factors.
By the end of 1915, the GWHA had 3,000 members. They used large banners during their protests. One famous banner read:
Our Husbands Sons and Brothers are Fighting the Prussians of Germany.
We are fighting the Prussians of Partick.
Only Alternative: Municipal Housing.
Banner at the Great March in St. Enoch's Square, Glasgow 7th Oct, 1915.
Protests and Influence
The GWHA was very active during the period known as Red Clydeside. This was a time of strong workers' protests in Glasgow. On November 17, 1915, a large protest march took place. Women, shipbuilders, and engineers marched through Glasgow. They went to the Glasgow Sherriff Court. This was where landlords tried to get orders to evict tenants.
In May 1917, GWHA leaders spoke at a large meeting on Glasgow Green. Over 70,000 people listened. Agnes Dollan, the GWHA Treasurer, was even sent to prison for a short time in 1917. This was because of her actions during the rent strike. The methods used by the GWHA were copied in many other UK cities. These included Dundee, Aberdeen, Leeds, Bradford, Edmonton, Barrow, Workington, Coventry, and Birmingham.
How GWHA Helped Change Laws
The GWHA eventually worked directly with the government to change laws. In 1918, they joined the Secretary of State for Scotland's Scottish Women's Committee on House Planning.
Because of their efforts, the GWHA helped pass the Housing and Town Planning Act of 1919. This important law made local governments responsible for building homes for citizens. It also provided money for them to do so.
