There was a time when Terry Evans was afraid of a knock on his front door.

Not because he was in any trouble, but because he might have to invite someone in – into a shabby rental house that he was too embarrassed to live in.

His daughter didn’t want to go back after school. He and his partner Xi’an have been under pressure.

Everything has changed now. The fear at the door was gone.

This is because they now live in a different, newly renovated house in Rutland Street, Grimsby.

“It’s just a sense of pride – being somewhere you can actually be happy to invite someone in. It just gives you a sense of comfort and you can keep going,” he told Sky News.

This is being made possible by East Marsh United, a grassroots community group that is restoring the wreckage. houses Then manage the property as a compassionate landlord.

They describe it as a “community housing revolution.”

“It’s absolutely amazing what they do,” Terry told us.

“It’s crazy that they have to do this… you shouldn’t be relying on community groups to make sure there’s enough housing for local residents.”

The compact rows of terraces in East Marsh were once home to the workforce of Grimsby’s once prosperous fishing port.

The industry’s collapse led to decades of decline – which manifested itself in many aspects of people’s lives – housing, health, employment opportunities and crime.

“It used to be called Murder Mile,” Paula Graves said as we walked along Rutland Street.

The reputation as a crime hotspot, while it persists, is now an outdated idea for those who live and work here.

Paula Graves is responsible for housing projects at East Marsh United and her team are determined to restore property and pride here.

Community action groups began cleaning up neighborhoods in 2017 using brooms and buckets.

“Crime is rampant, but the community wants something done about it,” Paula said.

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“Housing is a huge problem because landlords just don’t care.”

Investors, she explained, “just bought properties en masse.

“Some are locals, but there are also a lot of people from the south.

“We have some who live in China – their portfolios are so large that they probably don’t even know they have a house available here.”

Undeterred by the darkness of the housing system that developed here, East Marsh Associates found that it was not a good fit for the community. In fact it’s damaging it.

Their mission begins when they acquire three properties – and then seek out any funding they can get.

They now own their tenth property – nine of which are in Rutland Street – but they hope to own more.

Gary Leshone works as a wind turbine engineer in Grimsby’s fast-growing emerging renewable energy sector, but he also manages the refurbishment of the Rutland St. property.

He told us: “I think there are about 300 houses in East Moorland right now that are still vacant and derelict and uninhabited and we can renovate them and get people moving in sometimes within six to eight weeks.”

“For the government, if you’re waiting for them, you’re going to wait forever.”

Paula is also angry at the promises made by ministers on housing – often around new-build homes. Here they show there are cheaper, faster solutions.

“Well, we’re Grimsby and we’ve reached the end of the road,” Paula said.

“But really, we’re going to put ourselves on the map and say you know what — you come and look at what we’ve done because we’ve achieved it.

“We as a community achieved this, not because you told us to.”

Vickii Goodwin moved into her new home in Rutland St last October and is still impressed by the changes it has made.

The 36-year-old mum is now also able to have guests at home and, importantly, believes it has changed her personality – she is a happier person.

“When I moved here, it was like a fresh start and I realized I was capable of a lot more than what I was doing – so I actually stood up and got a job.”

She’s now looking for her next one, but is walking, talking proof that, given the right circumstances, a good life can follow.

Ultimately, East Marsh United’s operations team is helping spread hope and optimism to their community.

This is what politicians are trying to sell at the door during the general election. It’s hard to know if they’ll be invited in, given how disillusioned people here are with them.