Our Country in Crisis

'Kwajo's voice is leading the call for change on behalf of a generation who have been seriously failed by Westminster.' Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

'A brilliant thinker and doer. Kwajo for Mayor of London!' Kelechi Okafor

'Vital and urgent' Vicky Spratt, author of TENANTS

This may be the most important book you read this year.

On 14 June 2017, Grenfell went up in flames and seventy-two people lost their lives. Three years later, two-year-old Awaab Ishak would die from a respiratory condition caused by mould. And in 2023, it was reported that we are seeing record levels of children experiencing homelessness. This is twenty-first century Britain, where millions are trying to build their lives on crumbling foundations.

Britain's in a housing emergency.

Campaigner and activist, Kwajo Tweneboa has been on the frontline of this housing crisis, highlighting the shocking conditions so many are forced to live with. He knows better than anyone the brutal realities the UK is facing, from the decimation of our welfare services to the rising poverty rates as the cost-of-living crisis continues.

This is how we rebuild.

Our Country in Crisis looks back at decades of poor decisions and highlights the modern-day the impact of the loss of social housing as a safety net. This housing emergency cuts across generations, class and education, and is devastating our health, destroying communities and ruining lives.

But it is not irreversible. Radical action is possible and Kwajo Tweneboa and his urgent, ground-breaking book are leading the way. For readers of manifestos for change such as It's Not That Radical by Mikaela Loach, Poverty Safari by Darren McGarvey and Tenants by Vicky Spratt, this is the fresh new voice and perspective we need.

Kwajo Tweneboa is a brilliant campaigner for social justice and a great writer. His personal story is profoundly moving and his advocacy on behalf of tenants in social housing is compelling. This book is a must read for anyone who cares about the state of the nation. Michael Gove
Britain cannot move forward until it is freed from the vice-like grip of its housing crisis. Kwajo's voice is leading the call for change on behalf of a generation who have been seriously failed by Westminster. All politicians should read this book and act on it. Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester
Kwajo is without a doubt one of the greatest modern day Brits. Page by page, he manages to transmute his own personal trauma at the hands of Britain's failing systems into a beautiful call to action for better governance and systems that truly serve the people. My admiration for this young, brilliant thinker and doer goes beyond words. Kwajo for Mayor of London! Kelechi Okafor
For too long the ills of society have been blamed on individuals rather than the system, and Kwajo has always done a brilliant job showing not just how broken the housing system is - but how the system slowly but surely breaks individuals, and families. The book is a reminder of the right to have somewhere safe and secure to call home, and what it says about us as a society when we forget the fundamentals of life. Charlene White, Broadcaster
Kwajo has played a central role in the rise of housing as a key public, media and political issue. He's a tireless champion of the fundamental right to a safe home. This book is an important step in his ceaseless fight for social justice. Thank you Kwajo for all you do to fight for home. Polly Neate, CEO of Shelter
The most refreshing political voice of the decade, this book is for this who want to understand the solutions for the housing crisis, not just the problems. Venetia Menzies, THE SUNDAY TIMES
As we face a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape our country, Kwajo offers a manifesto for a kinder, more equal society led by its citizens. The next government should read this book and learn its lessons by heart. Change is coming, and its name is Kwajo Tweneboa. Ros Wynne-Jones, THE MIRROR
As a young black woman who grew up on an estate in inner-city London, I have lived experience of much of what is described in this book. Housing matters. Kwajo has made my often disregarded and ignored community feel as if they matter too. We are grateful to him for that. Lucy Martindale, Youth Mentor and Knife Crime Campaigner
Kwajo has amplified the voices of the many thousands who suffer as a result of poor housing, including women suffering domestic abuse. We are not voiceless, we needed to be heard and Kwajo heard us. Jennifer McDermott, CEO of Cassandra Centre
This is a powerful and raw exposé of the housing crisis by Kwajo Tweneboa, who has an important manifesto for resolving it Victoria Derbyshire
Kwajo shines a piercing light on the injustices surrounding the housing emergency and gives a powerful voice to those harmed by it Edward Daffarn, GRENFELL UNITED
Kwajo's tireless efforts have brought the plight of those in substandard conditions to public attention, inspiring hope and empowering the silenced. This book describes how Kwajo's relentless advocacy has raised awareness and ignited a transformative movement. An important read that captivates you from cover to cover. Samantha Burrell, Social Housing Tenant, London
Every single MP should take the time to read this fantastic book based on facts and lived experience. Every word resonated with me. Dannika Stewart, Social Housing Tenant, Manchester
Our Country in Crisis is the polemic wake-up call our country needs. Immediately arresting, it is a brutally honest account of the realities of poverty, homelessness, and political failure. Kwajo is a once in a generation voice, for those who most need it, and with a searing cry for justice and equity. This devastating account of a country in crisis deserves to shake the political settlement of the UK into new vision of the future - one where everyone has a safe and secure home, and a country where we no longer treat some people as second-class citizens. Matt Downie, CEO of Crisis
Kwajo and his family suffered unimaginable horrors because of their housing association. I am endlessly in awe of how he has turned that story into change for so many other people. If there was any justice in this world, he'd be in charge of housing policy. This book is vital and urgent. Vicky Spratt, author of TENANTS
Social housing in Britain is broken--this book shows the human cost...Every new sitting MP should be given a copy of this book to read before the rot sets in. -- India Block The Standard

Social housing activist Kwajo Tweneboa has been tirelessly campaigning against poor social housing conditions. He travels up and down the country shining a light on the conditions housing providers and governments have kept hidden, helping make meaningful change one home at a time, rallying his audience to lobby government officials and housing associations. He is passionately campaigning for change, having met with government officials from all sides of the political spectrum including Sadiq Khan and Michael Gove. He has appeared on Sky News, Good Morning Britain, GB News and featured in the Guardian and the Independent. Kwajo has been highlighted by the Big Issue as a changemaker and has been described as "Britain's brightest social housing champion".

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