Housing Justice UNLEASH email bulletin October 2007

Hello and welcome to the October 2007 Housing Justice UNLEASH news update

Last Saturday I took part in a workshop at Turvey Abbey titled Home, Homelessness and Community led by two group psychotherapists, a self-described homeless poet and mystic and a Benedictine Monk. Diogenes was our starting point, who famously and provocatively lived in a barrel – a liminal or in-between place - in the market place of ancient Athens. The day took us on a journey that was at times uncomfortable, but which helped reveal some important truths about the homeless or “unhoused” state of mind. I know that not everyone will agree with this, but for me it confirmed that the “problem” of homelessness is not in the behaviour - anti-social or otherwise - of people who live in these liminal places themselves, but in the attitudes and behaviour of the settled community. I hope to work with the organisers to put on another workshop like this in London.

With the party conference season finishing today and Parliament re-opening next week even the least politically engaged can’t fail to notice that it is politics time again, possibly even election time… There are therefore several items under the heading of politics and activism this month, although of course politics - like God - is present in everything, whether acknowledged or not.

About this Housing Justice UNLEASH news bulletin
This monthly bulletin aims to be a quick but worthwhile read for people working in or concerned about housing and homelessness in London. The readership includes: churches and other faith groups, individuals working in housing or homelessness agencies, people who are or have been homeless, and people with an interest in housing, homelessness or related issues.

It goes out each month to about 1200 people and Housing Justice members are invited to use it to share news or needs. Comments or feedback are always welcome.

Subscribe/unsubscribe Please forward to any colleagues or friends who may be interested. If you receive a copy in this way and would like your own please email me - also to unsubscribe anytime.

a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk
Privacy/data protection: I will not share your email or personal details with other people or organisations without your permission, and this email is sent blind copy to prevent spam and viruses.

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Annual Service of Commemoration
Housing Justice AGM and Conference
Poverty and Homelessness Action Week 2008: Opening Doors, Opening Hearts
Poverty and Homelessness Action Week training events
West London Citizens Anniversary Assembly
End Child Poverty Rally
London Churches Refugee Network
Your place in London Art Exhibition
Andy Ludlow Homelessness Awards Presentation
Housing Justice UNLEASH volunteers training
Asylum Support Appeals Project free training on support options for failed asylum seekers
Homeless Link Training
Your New Politics?
Homeless Link Party conference diary 2007
Praxis UMAP and Reach Out projects
Join Housing Justice!

Annual Service of Commemoration
The Service of Commemoration for homeless people who have died takes place each year at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church. This year it is on

Thursday 8 November at 11.30am
All are welcome to join us for this solemn occasion in Remembrance week. The service will be followed by light refreshments

Poster A poster is attached which you may like to print out for your notice board. If you have any problems with the printing let me know and I’ll post one to you

a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk

Invitation to send in names of people you know who have died homeless
A main feature of the service each year is the reading of the names of those who have died, known to the people, agencies, and churches working with homeless and badly housed people. Please send any names of which you are aware to Roger Shaljean Roger.Shaljean@cstm.org.uk or phone 020 7766 5555 by 1 November.

If you would like to take part in the service in some way (e.g. by reading out some of the names) then let me or Roger know. Thanks

Housing Justice AGM and Conference
This year our Keynote speaker is Dr Oliver Marc Hartwich, Chief Economist of the Policy Exchange (Think Tank of the Year 2006/2007) and author of ”Better Homes, Greener Cities” and “Bigger Better Faster More”.

Buffet Lunch and Showcase Session - 1.00pm-2.00pm with opportunities to hear about projects around the country
Poverty/Homelessness Action Week Briefing and Discussion 2.15pm-4.00pm
Tuesday 30 October 2007 10.30am - 4.00pm
St John’s Church, Waterloo Road, London SE1 8TY
Suggested contribution for lunch for non-members: £10 waged, £5 low/unwaged
RSVP to Ann McGovern, Housing Justice 209 Old Marylebone Road, London NW1 5QT
Email info@housingjustice.org.uk

Poverty and Homelessness Action Week 2008: Opening Doors, Opening Hearts
27 January to 3 February 2008
Opening Doors, Opening Hearts is about opening hearts to hear the stories people have to tell about being homeless, badly housed, and poor. It offers opportunities for dialogue, springing from the conviction that together we can open doors to a better housed, better paid and more just society.

In 2008 Homelessness Sunday and Poverty Action Sunday are only one week apart. Poverty and Homelessness Action Week is your chance to make a difference. The Opening Doors, Opening Hearts resource pack contains all the materials that are needed for Homelessness Sunday, for Poverty Action Sunday, and to organise events during the Action Week.

Events Our target is for at least 100 events to take place in communities all over the UK in Poverty and Homelessness Action Week. The resource pack materials will assist you to pray, reflect and act on homelessness and poverty; to encourage your church to get involved; to uncover the reality of hidden poverty or homelessness in your community; to celebrate what is already going on locally; to work with others.

Poverty and Homelessness Action Week is organised by Church Action on Poverty, Housing Justice, Scottish Churches Housing Action, the Church Urban Fund and others.

More information www.homelessness-sunday.org.uk

Poverty and Homelessness Action Week training events
Thurs 4 Oct 10.30am - 2pm
URC Church House, Tavistock Place, London
Contact Geoff Duncan, North Thames URC Synod 020 7799 5000
geoffrey.duncan@urc10.org
Tues 30 October St John's, Waterloo (part of the Housing Justice AGM)
Contact Judith Maizel-Long, Housing Justice 020 7723 7273 x 254
j.maizel-long@housingjustice.org.uk
Monday 5 Nov 12.30-2.30pm Trinity House, Borough High St. SE1 1HW
Contact Terry Drummond, Southwark Diocese 020 8769 3256
terry.drummond@southwark.anglican.org

West London Citizens Anniversary Assembly
Housing Justice is a member of West London Citizens and we have worked together on a number of campaigns this year - the Strangers into Citizens Rally in May, and the Tent City Action outside City Hall in August calling for more Community Land Trusts as a way of making housing affordable to working families.

As an alliance of activists and grassroots organisations - Churches, Faith Groups, Trade Unions, Schools, Colleges and Community Groups - we believe it is well worth our support and involvement.

Please join us if you can for the 2nd Annual Anniversary Assembly on
Thursday 25 October from 7.30-9.30pm at
Hammersmith Town Hall, King Street, London W6 9JU
There will be local MP's and Councillors, Faith and Business leaders, and groups from all the supporting churches and other community organisations. There will also be live music and some light refreshments. It would be great if you could come for what promises to be a really exciting celebration. Why not bring your spouse, colleague or a friend?

RSVP to me by Monday 22 October a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk

End Child Poverty Rally
Save the Children as part of the End Child Poverty Coalition invite you to a rally in London on Wednesday 7 November
Where: The Treasury, London
Time: 10.30am to 11.30am
The Labour Government made a commitment to end child poverty by 2020 but last year child poverty figures rose for the first time since 1997. Our country has one of the worst rates of poverty in Europe with 3.8 million children living in poverty.
We need your help to show Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling that we want to see an end to this national disgrace. As part of the Month of Action for the Campaign to End Child Poverty, which runs from October 17th until November the 20th, Save the Children is organising this rally. Please come and bring family and friends to show support for the Campaign to End Child Poverty. Bring banners, placards and wear a T-shirt from your organisation.
If you can attend, can you email how many people you can bring and if any of them will be under 18 to Carol Anne Lever
Campaigner
Save the Children, 1 St John's Lane, London EC1M 4AR
T 020 7012 6795
E C.Lever@savethechildren.org.uk
W www.endchildpoverty.org.uk

London Churches Refugee Network
Bringing together Christians working with refugees and asylum seekers in London
Next meeting:18 October at 6.00pm (5.30 for refreshments)
Main item: “Enrich London”
Responding to the Mayor of London’s Consultation on his draft strategy on refugee integration in London
Also update on the hardship fund Christmas Appeal and sharing good news and practice
All are welcome!
Further information from
Chris Brice London Diocese chris.brice@london.anglican.org.uk or 020 7932 1121 or
Geoff Duncan URC Geoffrey.duncan@urc10.org or 020 7799 5000
Methodist Central Hall
Storey’s Gate, London SW1H 9NH (opposite Westminster Abbey)

Your place in London Art Exhibition
An exhibition of art created by women at the Church Army Day Centre
Saturday 3 November to Mon 5 November 12 noon-5pm
The Crypt St Pancras Church
Euston Road London NW1 2BA
Further info from Maria Hagi-Pavli, Day Centre Manager email m.hagli-pavi@churcharmy.org.uk

Andy Ludlow Homelessness Awards Presentation
Cllr Jamie Carswell, Chair of London Councils Housing Forum, invites you to attend the Awards Presentation on Thursday 15 November 2007 at 11.30 am

with special guests
Iain Wright MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Communities and Local Government
Jon Snow Newscaster, Channel 4 News and homelessness campaigner
BFI Southbank Light Box Entrance, Theatre Avenue (between BFI and National Theatre), Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XT
Light refreshments served after the awards presentation
RSVP by 8 November 2007 to Olga Matrenina 020 7934 9758 or email olga.matrenina@londoncouncils.gov.uk
Admittance is by invitation only
Now in its ninth year, this is the country’s leading homelessness awards scheme with prize money of £25,000.
The awards are run by London Councils on behalf of the capital’s 33 local councils and sponsored by London Housing Foundation, the government’s Communities and Local Government department and Shelter.

Come along and meet representatives from the six shortlisted organisations as well as service users and others involved in tackling homelessness in London.

See www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/ludlow

Housing Justice UNLEASH volunteers training
Autumn dates
Housing Justice UNLEASH runs a programme of training for volunteers in the field of homelessness. Places are FREE to Housing Justice member organisations, or individual members (scroll down for membership info)

The Basic Training Day covers: Overview of homelessness including local authority tests, role of the voluntary sector etc, Mental Health Awareness, Drugs and Alcohol Awareness and Dealing with Conflict.

The Basic Training day is very popular and is nearly always oversubscribed.
The other training days provide more in-depth training on Mental Health and Drugs and Alcohol Awareness and are particularly suitable for volunteers with some experience or for those who have done the introductory Basic Training day.

All training days run from 10.00-4.00pm.
Basic Training Thursday 4 October NB Tomorrow! Still a few places available
Venue: Emmanuelle Church, Marsham St. Westminster SW1 3DW
Drugs and Alcohol Saturday 20 October 20 (postponed from September 22^nd)
Venue: Chelsea Methodist Church Kings Rd SW3 5TX
Mental Health Awareness Saturday 27 October
South London Mission, 256 Bermondsey Street SE1 3DW
Basic Training Saturday 17 November
All Saints Church Carnegie St London N1 9QW
Booking is essential. If you or your volunteers would like to attend any of these training dates please email me for further info and a booking form a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk or call 020 7723 7273 x242

Asylum Support Appeals Project free training on support options for failed asylum seekers
This training session looks at basic information on housing and welfare support available for some failed asylum seekers (such as section 4 support and Community Care) and explains who is able to get it. The training is available free to Refugee Community Organisations and other voluntary sector organisations working with destitute asylum seekers. ASAP asks all organisations which benefit from the training to become members. Membership is free.

Date 15 October 2007
Time 10am to 1pm
Venue Friends Meeting House, Euston
Contact Eiri Ohtani
Asylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP) Coordinator
Cornerstone House, 14 Willis Road, Croydon CR0 2XX
E eiri@asaproject.org.uk
T 020 8684 5873
W www.asaproject.org.uk

Homeless Link Training
18/19 October 2007, London, Resettling homeless people with Mike Seal
25 October 2007, Manchester, Working with clients from the new EU member states
22 November 2007, London, Difficult, disturbing and dangerous behaviour
29 November 2007, London, Getting homeless people into education and employment
For more information see www.homeless.org.uk/training or contact
Kaite Welsh
Training Assistant
Homeless Link 10-13 Rushworth Street
London SE1 0RB
T 020 7960 3030
E kaite.welsh@homelesslink.org.uk

Your New Politics?
This is from Richard Wilson, Director of Involve:
September saw the roll out of Gordon Brown's New Politics with 10 Citizens juries taking place across the UK. The Prime Minister needs us to help solve “many of the greatest challenges we face, such as climate change, national security and obesity”, as well as to renew his democratic institutions as without us they aren’t very democratic.
So no pressure then!
The point is that Gordon believes that citizen involvement needs to take a central role in how government is done. We at Involve agree. We are also aware however that Brown’s vision is not going to be achieved by running a few events alone, although they can certainly help.
In that vein Involve have started speaking to citizens across the UK to find out how they want to be involved, and how Brown’s New Politics needs to be done to work for them. You can check out some of these on our Video Blog and the full selection on the Involve YouTube Channel.
We would love to have your views on how you think Brown's new politics should be delivered?
Do you love citizens’ juries? Want to be engaged via text? Or are you just too busy to even think about politics?
Either way click on our Your New Politics? and add your ideas. Or if you have the technology add your YouTube url and we will embed a video of you.
Your ideas will be compiled into a Democratic Dossier which we will submit to Gordon to inform his New Politics next month.
Richard Wilson Director - Involve
020 7632 0121
www.involve.org.uk

Homeless Link Party conference diary 2007
Jenny Edwards and Dominic Williamson have been representing Homeless Link's views at the three party conferences this month. Follow their progress through this online diary.

www.homeless.org.uk/policyandinfo/campaigns/partyconf07

Praxis UMAP and Reach Out
Two new projects from Praxis worth knowing about are UMAP - Undocumented Migrant Advice Project - and Reach Out
UMAP aims to identify, through outreach advice and action research, new pathways into a regularised life for people whose immigration status creates difficulty in their ability to establish a suitable life for themselves.

The project seeks to address the poverty experienced by newcomers to the UK. It will engage with the issues of insecurity, destitution, low income, poor housing, exploitation and poor safety in the workplace and access to health care.

Direct work with vulnerable migrants will be carried out through outreach work. Advice and practical support will be given in key outreach venues such as hostels, day centres, prisons, probation offices and GP surgeries, churches and mosques. Information on services will be sent to and displayed in agencies and venues in which undocumented migrants are likely to meet.

Reach Out provides Free NVQ Training in Advice & Guidance for Faith based organisations in East London.
The project is aimed at promoting and delivering free Information, Advice & Guidance training (NVQ) on education, employment and general issues amongst faith based organisations in East London.

During this time we will also run an ESOL course for your service users.
Who is it for?
Faith based organisations: Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh.
The project will recruit staff and volunteers from BME and women’s groups in East London working with refugee and migrant groups and establish networks between these and mainstream IAG training providers.

What will be learnt?
The training will be delivered by specialist trainers and tutors with experience in community learning. Some of the subjects covered include: advice & guidance, English, welfare, housing and homelessness, domestic violence, education & employment, immigration law, refugee and asylum seekers issues and ICT skills.

How does your organisation benefit?
Reach Out will help develop the level of skills and knowledge within the organisation and ensue a quality provision of advice & guidance that will improve community support. We will also run and ESOL course for your clients.

The project’s objective is to strengthen the role of faith organisations through their participation in community cohesion and integration, access to faith, gender and new communities networks and links to mainstream service providers.

Praxis has twenty five years experience in the field of human rights, social justice and community development providing advice, training and mentoring support to migrants and refugees from all over the world.

If you would like to find out more about either of these projects and how to get involved contact Praxis on 020 7729 7985 or email admin@praxis.org.uk

Places are limited so do not wait!
Praxis
Pott Street
London E2 0EF
T 020 7749 7627
W www.praxis.org.uk

best wishes,

Alastair Murray
UNLEASH Coordinator
Housing Justice
209 Old Marylebone Road
London NW1 5QT

T 020 7723 7273 x.242
M 078 7581 0216
E a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk
W www.housingjustice.org.uk
Charity No 294666 Company No 2017207
Housing Justice mobilises the resources of Christians, the churches and others to reduce and ultimately eliminate homelessness and bad housing. It works both through direct services of independent housing advice, resident-led regeneration, and church linked homelessness projects, and through awareness-raising and campaigning programmes to influence policy-makers.

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