Over 1,000 churches and church groups took part in this year’s Homelessness Sunday held on 28 January 2007. Organised by Housing Justice in collaboration with Housing Justice Wales and Scottish Churches Housing Action this years event focused on the injustices faced by those with no home.
In our affluent consumer society we are all encouraged to think of our dwellings as monetary assets rather than as the heart of family life, as places of comfort and safe refuge, and as key components of our identity. Homelessnes Sunday encouraged Christians to think about the issues of homelessness, affordability; the shortage of social housing; rural homelessness; homeless and destitute asylum seekers and the problems faced by migrant workers in Britain who are not entitled to welfare benefits.
Many churches used the day to raise awareness of the issues around homelessness generally and the problems in their local area with special events such as porch displays, sleep-outs and concerts. Other churches held special services and arranged collections of household items, clothing and toiletries for distribution to homeless and badly housed people in the local area. Hundreds more churches raised money for local and national homelessness organisations’ work.
Homelessness Sunday events were covered by many local newspapers and other media raising the profile of local churches and the issue of homelessness. Nationally the event was featured in the national and religious press as well as on radio.
The sleep-out at Salisbury Cathedral, (photo Alabare)
Highlights of the day included
In Aberdeen the Cyrenians held a sleep-out involving over 1,000 people. They expect to raise over £30,000 for their work with homeless and badly housed people.
In Bloxham, near Banbury young people in the Soulshapers group slept out in a field and used their experiences to reflect at the Homelessness Sunday service.
In Bradford Nightstop UK speakers spoke at Bradford Unitarian Church, Lees Methodist, St Clements Church of England and St Paul’s Church of England churches. There was also a display at Bradford Cathedral. Rev Geoff Reid wrote his own special prayer which was used at St John’s Great Horton, Keighley Church and Bradford New Church.
In Cambridge local homelessness newsletter the Willow Walker staged a concert of words and songs on homelessness.
In Dunblane St Mary’s Church held their annual Homelessnes Sunday service with young people leading the service with a drama. There was a collection to raise funds for Stirling Start-up.
In Dunfermline St Ninian’s Church held services with a Speaker from Open Door and a collection of goods for the homeless.
In Edinburgh worshippers at Christ Church, Morningside held a collection of household items such as crockery and cutlery, pots and pans, cleaning materials, towels, curtains and bedding and linen for use in starter packs for formerly homeless people moving into new homes.
In Gloucester Cathedral over 300 young people and 150 adults took part in among other things dance lessons, football, cooking and exercise classes to stay awake all night and reflect on the nature of homes and homelessness at an event appropriately titled Insomnia. Meanwhile the Bishops of Gloucester and Tewkesbury and the Chief Executive of the City Council slept outside and raised over £9,000 for homelessness projects.
In Gourock St John’s Church held a service with speaker Alastair Cameron from Scottish Churches Housing Action.
In Kendal housing and homelessness advice service Manna House held a sleep out at Kendal Castle and were joined by their local MP. There was also an awareness day with a stall in Westmorland Shopping Centre and the town centre.
In Leeds an ecumenical service was held drawing on the experiences of a Simon Community volunteer (and former rough sleeper) and addressed by the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds.
In London the American Church in London held a concert to raise awareness and funds for the American Church in London Soup Run
In London Church Army Chief Executive Mark Russell offered support wearing a Homelessness Sunday t-shirt at the organisation's Marylebone Project.
In London worshippers at St Martins in the Fields heard from guest speaker Alastair Murray of Housing Justice as well as workers and clients of the Connection at St Martins. Children took part in a walk around the block to think about having to sleep rough.
In London Westminster Cathedral held a service to raise awareness of homelessness and held an appeal to raise funds for The Passage.
In Northampton Christ Church and Holy Cross Church in Daventry held a sleep-out in aid of Homeless Voice, an organisation set up to provide a forum for those who have experienced homelessness and want to make a difference.
In Perth Churches Action for the Homeless launched a series of five new postcards to raise awareness of the different aspects of homelessness – from rough sleeping to moving into a new tenancy,.
In Salisbury Cathedral over 100 people slept out in the Cloisters, led by the Mayor of Salisbury Sheila Warrander, to raise money for her chosen charity Alabaré Christian Care Centres. Over £10,000 has been raised for Alabaré’s work. Further information is available on the Alabaré website >>
In Sheffield at Dronfield Baptist Church worshippers had to guess the price of basic necessities such as bread, milk, fruit and rent to appreciate the hardship faced by homeless and badly housed people.
In Telford the Salvation Army KIP Project held a ‘Sofa Surfers Variety Night’ to raise funds for and awareness of homeless people sleeping on friends and relatives’ sofas because they cannot afford their own homes.
In Wells Mendip YMCA held a service at St Cuthbert’s Church. Over 100 people enjoyed hymns, poems and sketches designed to raise awareness of the issue of homelessness and promote their work.
In
Weston super Mare, Woodspring Deposit Guarantee Board and Somewhere to Go held a joint service at St Peter’s Church with guest speakers.
In Weybridge Christ the Prince of Peace held a service with the youth group in sleeping bags in the aisle and produced a drama about homelessness.
In Worthing over 50 people attended a sleep out and raised over £10,000 for the Worthing Churches Homelessness project.