Housing Justice News

This page contains the latest housing and homelessness news as well as developments at Housing Justice and items of interest from partner organisations

This was Poverty and Homelessness Action Week
Download the report from Poverty and Homelessness Action Week 2008. This year there were over 120 events around the country, including sleepouts, poverty hearings and many other special events and services.
Download This was Poverty and Homelessness Action Week>>

Housing Justice is recruiting
Housing Justice is currently advertising four vacancies, including London Coordinator and Office and facilities Coordinator.
Further Information is on our recruitment page>>

New publication: Faith Action
FaithAction Magazine is a practical resource is designed for those wanting to make a difference in community regeneration.
Download Faith Action>>
Faith Action website>>

Housing Statistics 2007 published
The Communities and Local Government department has published Housing Statistics 2007 its annual compendium of statistics covering all aspects of housing and homelessness
CLG - Housing Statistics 2007>>

Ken Loach to introduce It’s a Free World at special screening
Renowned film director Ken Loach is to introduce a special screening of his film It's a Free World on Tuesday 5 February 2008 at the Prince Charles CInema, 7 Leicester Place, London WC2. The event forms part of the Poverty and Homelessness Action Week.

News Release>>
Download flyer>>

Caroline Flint appointed as new Housing Minister
In the reshuffle following Peter Hain's resignation Housing Minister Yvette Cooper has been moved to become Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Caroline Flint, MP for the Don Valley, has been promoted to take her place as Housing Minister.
CLG news release>>

Poverty and Homelessness Action Week packs all gone
We have now distributed all the paper copies of the Poverty and Homelessness Action Week packs - the material is still available on CD in pdf and word format.

January 2008 Housing Justice UNLEASH Email Bulletin published
Read the bulletin>>




Donate online through Justgiving.com
It is now possible to give to Housing Justice online through Justgiving.com - the website accepts all the major credit and debit cards and will add in 28% Gift Aid automatically if you are a UK taxpayer
Housing Justice Justgiving page>>

Church of England launches debt campaign
The Church of England has launched a new campaign to advise people about debt. The campaign comes after research revealed that 18% of adults in Britain have more than £10,000 in unsecured debts.
BBC - Church launches new debt campaign>>
Church of England - Matter of life and debt>>

Cardinal highlights needs of homeless people and immigrants
Archbishop of Westminster (and President of Housing Justice) Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor highlighted the exclusion felt by homeless people and immigrants in our society in his Christmas 2007 homily.
Read the Homily>>

Prospect of soup run ban raised again
Westminster City Council is reported to be be determined to implement a soup run ban. Westminster believe that soup runs bring rough sleepers out of hostels and on to the streets. Councillor Angela Harvey of Westminster commented "when you see 50 to 80 people waiting for a soup run, they are not homeless people by and large. The majority will not be rough sleepers... you see them going off with large carrier bags stuffed full of food which is for them and their house mates. We know they are in work and housed."

The move was condemned by Mayor of London Ken Livingstone who stated "I don't think anyone seriously faced with the choice of coming into a hostel will stay on the street because of a soup run, and the idea with all the other problems we've got, with crime, that we should have police diverted to seizing their soup is just bizarre. I think this was just another: 'Can we move the poor on from Westminister?'"
BBC - Do soup kitchens help the homeless?

Radio 5 Live discusses soup runs
BBC Radio 5 Live examined the issue of soup runs in an edition of the 5 Live Report just before Christmas. The programme included contributions from Housing Justice. The programme is available to listen again or download as a podcast on the 5 Live site or through applications such as iTunes
Download the podcast>>

December Housing Justice UNLEASH Email Bulletin published
Housing Justice UNLEASH publishes a monthly email bulletin giving a summary of the latest developments around homelessness and Housing Justice in London
Read the latest edition>>

London Winter Shelters List published
Homeless London has published the annual Winter Shelters List which gives details of the different shelters that are open over the winter months. The list includes contact and referral details as well the dates and areas of operation.
London Winter Shelter List>>

Government announces action to tackle severe overcrowding
The government has published an action plan to tackle overcrowding. The Government has pledged to use the bedroom standard measure of overcrowding (rather than the current stautory definition established in the 1930s and not updated) to tackle the problem in 38 of the worst affected local authorities in London, Bradford, Leicester, Liverpool and Manchester and will look to implement the bedroom standard nationwide building on the findings of the 38 pilot areas. The efforts to tackle overcrowding have been linked to the Government's pledge to eradictae child poverty by 2020.

Housing Justice welcomes this plan as the first step to ending the misery of overcrowded housing.
CLG - Tackling overcrowding in England: an action plan>>
Explanation of the different definitions of overcrowding together with calculations of the number of families affected>>

Almost 83,000 homeless families still in temporary accommodation
The latest statutory homelessness figures show that at the 30 September 2007 82,750 households were in temporary accommodation under the terms of the homelessness legislation - 76% of these families contained children.
CLG - Statutory Homelessness: 3rd Quarter 2007, England>>

BSHF launches report looking at the needs of Gypsies and Travellers
Charity the Building and Social Housing Foundation has launched a report looking at the housing needs of Gypsies and Travellers in England. It would take only one square mile of land to give space to the 21% of Gypsies and Travellers who in 2006 were homeless as they had no place to legally park their caravans.
BSHF - Out in the Open: Providing Accommodation, Promoting Understanding and Recognising Rights of Gypsies and Travellers>>

Housing Justice advertises for new Chair and Board Members
Housing Justice is currently looking to recruit a new Chair and Board members to lead the organisation over the next few years.
An advert appeared in the Guardian on 05 December 2007>>
Further information on the roles>>
Read the News Release>>

New website: churches in new housing areas
A new website has been launched by Churches Together in England which looks at the specific issues for the church in the areas where the bulk of the new housing will be built over the next 20 years
Churches in the New Housing Areas website>>

Inaugural Housing Justice Carol Service announced
We will be holding our first Carol Service on Thursday 13 December 2007 at St John's Church, Waterloo, starting at 7pm. The service will feature the choir of St Angela’s Ursuline School, contributions from Streetwise Opera as well as the more traditional lessons and carols. Music will also be provided by the band Second Opinion and refreshments will be served after the service. All are welcome. Further information on the event is contained in the news release>>

Soup run ban dropped
Following campaigning by Housing Justice, soup runs, churches, homelessness cahrities and individuals the proposed ban on soup runs has been dropped from the legislation.
Read the news release>>

Housing Justice campaigns against proposed curbs on soup runs
Housing Justice has submitted a response to proposals made by Westminster City Council which would restrict the operation of soup runs in central London. The measure is included in a draft London Local Authorities bill which will be decided in mid-November.
Soup Run Forum response to measure>>
BBC - Soup for homeless could be curbed>>
Guardian - letters to the editor>>
Independent - letter to the editor>>
Independent - Soup run ban 'could cut lifeline to homeless'>>

Housing Justice's Alastair Murray also spoke about this issue on the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme on Tuesday 13 November 2007

At the meeting to decide whether to include the measure Mayor of London Ken Livingstone commented "It is quite wrong to seek to criminalise the activities of those who run soup kitchens and provide much-needed assistance."

The Reverend Chigor Chike prepared a paper for Housing Justice UNLEASH looking at some of the theological issues surrounding soup runs in 2005, it is still relevant today>>

Housing Justice Annual Review
The 2006-2007 Housing Justice Annual Review was published at our AGM - it includes details of our work over the year to March 2007 and also a poster giving information on the Bromley starter packs scheme set up as a result of a Housing Justice meeting. Contact Housing Justice for a paper copy of the review or download it here>>

Poverty and Homelessness Action Week resource packs launched at Housing Justice AGM
The resource packs for the Poverty and Homelessness Action Week were launched at the Housing justice AGM. the packs are available for £5.50 from Housing Justice - contact Ellen Byrne 020 7723 7273 or email hs@housingjustice.org.uk
Read the news release>>


launch of the Poverty and Homelessness Action Week packs at the Housing Justice AGM

Blears launches evaluation of Guide Neigbourhoods programme
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has launched an evaluation of the Guide Neighbourhoods programme

CLG - Learning to Change Neighbourhoods: Lessons from the Guide Neighbourhoods Programme - Evaluation Report>>
Summary report>>

Housing Justice responds to Housing Green paper
Housing Justice has responded to the consultation on the housing green paper Homes for the future: more affordable, more sustainable offering broad support for the proposed increases in house building. The summary of consultation responses and the government's response will be published early in 2008

Housing Justice Annual General Meeting
The Housing Justice AGM will take place on Tuesday 30 October 2007 at St John's Church, Waterloo, starting at 10:30. Dr Oliver Marc Hartwich of thinktank Policy Exchange will be giving the keynote speech. In the afternoon a Poverty and Homeless Action Week training event will take place.
Further information>>

Darling pledges £4billion for housing
Chancellor of the Exchequer Alastair Darling has announced the results of the Comprehensive Spending Review which lays out government expenditure until 2011. In his statement to the House of Commons the Chancellor pledged the funding necessary to finance the new social housing announced in the Housing Green paper
Summary of CSR main points>>
Information on the CSR on the Treasury website>>

Homelessness down but almost 85,000 homeless families still in temporary accommodation
The latest statutory homelessness figures have been pubished by the government. They show that in the April – June quarter acceptances under the terms of the homelessness legislation by local authorities in England were down 18% on the same period in 2006 and at the lowest level since the 1980s. The number of homeless families being accommodated in temporary accommodation at the end of the quarter also fell – by 10% on 2006 – and now stands at 84,900 families. In 2005 the government gave a commitment to halve the number of families (from the 2005 level of around 73,000) in temporary accommodation by 2010.
CLG - Statutory homelessness: 2nd quarter 2007>>

Poverty and Homelessness Action Week 2008 training events announced
The full programme of autumn training events for the Poverty and Homelessness Action Week 2008 has been announced
Full programme>>

Cameron argues that communities are best at tackling deprivation
Conservative Party leader David Cameron has argued that communities are best at tackling poverty and deprivation rather than the state
Read the article in the Guardian>>

Average house could cost £300,000 within five years
According to a report from the National Housing Federation the average house in England will sell for more than £300,000 within five years whilst in London houses will cost on average £500,000. The figures were produced for the NHF by independent researchers and illustrate the impact of low levels of house building on prices. The NHF is calling for the government to finance the construction of 70,000 new homes a year from 2008 - 2011 to begin to address the problem
Read Home Truths: the case for 70,000 new social homes a year>>
BBC coverage of report>>

Loyola Hall announce Faith and Justice Retreat
Jesuit spirituality centre Loyola Hall have announced a Faith and Justice Retreat on 9 - 11 November 2007.
Further information>>

Latest edition of Pilgrim Catholic published
The National Catholic Gypsy & Traveller Support Network have pulished the latest edition of their newsletter Pilgrim Catholic
Read the newsletter>>

Housing Justice supports London Citizens' Tent City protest
Housing Justice supported the recent Tent City protest outside City Hall organised by London Citzens. Protesters put up over 100 tents on Potters Field near to City Hall (the Greater London Assembly building) on the Southbank. The protest was calling for commitments to introduce community land trusts in London. Community land trusts are used extensively in the USA to enable affordable housing to be built. Partly as a result of the protest the Mayor of London has announced the first 100 home CLT pilot in Bow, East London.
BBC News report>>
London Citizens website>>
London Citizens' Our homes our London report>>

Housing minister admits definition of overcrowding is outdated
Baroness Andrews, Parliamentary under Secretary of State at the Communities and Local Government department, has admitted that the current definition of overcrowding -established in 1935- is out of date and said that no-one in government would defend it. She acknowledged that 500,000 families are living in overcrowded accommodation if the 'bedroom standard' is applied. However she stated that there was "no point" in changing the definition until local authorities were in a position to accommodate the families.
Lords Hansard debate>>

Interview with Alastair Murray
As part of its coverage of the Housing Justice UNLEASH conference Action on homelessness: a hand out or a hand up website Christian Today have published an interview carried out at the conference.
Interview with Alastair Murray>>
Report of conference>>

Government releases housing green paper
Housing Minister Yvette Cooper has published the housing green paper Homes for the future: more affordable, more sustainable which promises to increase housing supply by 40,000 new homes a year and pledges £8billion for housing in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Housing Justice has welcomed the green paper. We will be responding to it to help shape the policy that will go in the Queen's speech in November.
Read our news release>>
Go to the green paper section of our website>>
Go to the housing green paper section of the CLG website>>

Channel 4's Empire's Children to feature family who were rehoused by CHAS
Channel 4's series Empire's Children on Monday will feature the story of actor Chris Bisson who will be researching the history of his grandfather . Bisson's grandfather came to England from Trinidad in 1964 with his wife and nine children. Finding themselves homeless as a result of debt they were referred by a priest to CHAS in London. Through its Out of London scheme CHAS were able to buy a house in Manchester which it used to house the large family. The programme is to be broadcast on Monday 23 July 2007 at 9pm and will be available to watch on the Channel 4 website afterwards, it will be repeated on More4 on Wednesday 29 August.
Empire's Children information>>

New study shows inequality at 40 year high
A new study by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows that inequality in Britain is at a 40 year high and that over the past 40 years the number of 'average' households, ie neither rich nor poor, has declined as inequality increased and rich areas have tended to get richer and poor areas poorer. Read the JRF findings>>

Brown hints at new role for councils in building housing
According to press reports of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's speech to a Labour Party audience the housing green paper will give local authorities a greater role in providing affordable housing and would have the freedom to use their own land for building and retain rental income to invest in further homes. The green paper is expected on 23 July 2007 See the report in the Observer>>

The Independent Big Question: How should we deal with the crisis over affordable housing?
The Independent has analysed the problem of affordable housing in its Big Question series
See the article>>

Housing Justice publishes Agenda for Brown
In the the latest edition of our newsletter we have outlined some of the issues that we think the new Gordon Brown-led government must tackle in the housing and homelessness area.
Click here for the Agenda for Brown>>

July 2007 edition of Housing Justice News published
The latest edition of Housing Justice News, our newsletter for supporters and other interested in our work, has been published. Amongst other articles it contains features on Gordon's Brown's plans for housing, the Just Housing account as well as updates on the latest developments at Housing Justice
Download Housing Justice News>>

Brown announces 3 million new homes by 2020
Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged in his 'draft Queen's Speech' on 11 July 2007 to increase house building to 240,000 new homes a year by 2016, in total an increase of 3million new homes over the period to 2020. Details of the programme -including how many of the new homes will be affordable housing- will be announced next week when Housing Minister Yvette Cooper launches the housing green paper. Housing Justice welcomes the commitment to increase housing supply. We will be pushing the government to ensure that the new housing built includes adequate affordable housing to rent. Read the full statement>>

Housing Justice contributes to Issues Today homelessness resource book for schools
Housing Justice has contributed material to publisher Independence's new Issues Today key stage 3 schools resource book on homelessness. See the Independence Publishing website for further information>>

 

 

Social Justice Policy Group publishes Breakthrough Britain
The Conservative Party's Social Justice Policy Group, chaired by Iain Duncan Smith, has published its report. Entitled Breakthrough Britain: ending the costs of social breakdown it highlights the problems of family breakdown, poverty and benefit dependence in Britain today and contain policy proposals for the Conservative party. The full report is availble on the Group's website>> and a blog>> has been started to discuss the proposals

Homeless Truths radio show launched
209radio (www.209radio.co.uk) have launched a new show called Homeless Truths. the first programme will broadcast at 2pm on 17th July 2007.

The show is produced and presented by a team of homeless and ex-homeless people supported by Kick Start Funding from Cambridge City Council in partnership with 209radio. Further infromation on the prgramme is on the 209radio website>>

CLG Ministerial team announced
The department of Communities and Local Government team of Ministers has been announced by the Prime Minister
full details are on the CLG website>>

Housing Justice joins with other charities to demand government action on homelessness
In a letter to the Times Housing Justice Chief Executive Alison Gelder has joined with the heads of other housing and homelessness organisations to call on Gordon Brown-led government to tackle the deep exclusion faced by homeless people.
Read the letter>>

Housing Justice welcomes announcement of new Communities Secretary and Housing Minister in the Cabinet
New Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced that Hazel Blears MP will be Communities Secretary in his government. Brown has also announced that Housing Minister Yvette Cooper MP will be attending Cabinet from the Communities and Local Government department. Housing Justice welcomes this move and we look forward to the increased prominence that housing policy will have in government.We hope that the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review will
Full list of the new Cabinet>>

Latest government homelessness figures published - over 87,000 families still in temporary accommodation
The latest statutory homelessness figures have been published. The figures show the downwward trend in homelessness acceptances has continued and there has been a slight decline in the number of families in temporary accommodation.

There are still 87,120 homeless families having to live in temporary accommodation whilst they await rehousing - more than double the number when the current Labour government came to power in 1997.
CLG - Statutory homelessness: 1st quarter 2007>>

Guide Neighbourhoods on YouTube

The Housing Justice Regenerate Guide Neighbourhoods DVD launched at the House of Commons in May has been uploaded to YouTube - click on play above to view this 10 minute film. Copies of the DVD are also available by contacting Guy Cruls at Housing Justice.

Housing Justice UNLEASH conference: Action on Homelessness: a Hand out or a Hand up? 19 July 2007 London
Is this an either /or question?
Voluntary church and faith groups are good at giving essential help like food and clothes to people who are homeless and excluded. Is there a tension between meeting immediate needs and encouraging people toward independence? How best can we help people move on from homelessness? And who decides? Join us for this one day conference which will be looking at this important question.
Further information on the Housing Justice UNLEASH News page>>
Read the News Release>>

Brown pledges "big house building programme"
Chancellor Gordon Brown has promised to build more social housing when he becomes Prime Minister at the end of June. Speaking at a GMB meeting in Brighton and reported in the Guardian Brown said "I want to end the situation where so many couples cannot afford to buy a home. We will build more social housing and we will give help to councils. I want to have a big house-building programme in this country. It is wrong that people on modest incomes cannot afford to buy. Over the next few months housing will be a priority for this government."

Croydon CHAS move
From 4 June 2007 Croydon Housing Aid Society (one of the network of Housing Justice CHAS housing advice services) has a new location - at 79 Park Lane, Croydon, CR0 1GJ. Their telephone number has also changed to 020 8667 9226.

York CHAS closes
We are sad to report that CHAS York, one of the network of Housing Justice CHAS housing advice centres, has closed due to the failure of a funding application. CHAS York was founded by the Catholic Housing Aid Society (Housing Justice's predecessor) in 1967 and became an independent charity two years later. In the 40 years of its operations it has worked to prevent people from becoming homeless and helped to obtain secure housing for thousands of people.

Housing Justice welcomes Brown's commitment to new housing

Housing Justice has welcomed Gordon Brown's commitments to building more affordable housing to rent. Speaking as part of his campaign for the Labour Party Leadership Brown spoke of his wish for more affordable housing. He also has spoken about the role of churches in contributing to building strong sustainable communities.
Read the news release >>
Gordon Browns speech>>
BBC1 Sunday AM interview transcript>>

New Guide Neighbourhoods DVD launched at Parliamentary reception
The Guide Neighbourhoods Programme launched a new DVD at a reception in Parliament attended by former Home Secretary David Blunkett and Cabinet Office Minister Hazel Blears. Copies of the new DVD are available from Housing Justice
See the News Release>>

Housing Justice supports Strangers into Citizens
Housing Justice is supporting London Citizens' campaign to create a pathway to legal rights for undocumented migrants who have been in the UK for four or more years.
Strangers into Citizens have organised a national day of action and celebration in London on Bank Holiday Monday 7 May 2007.
Further information on the Strangers into Citizens website>>
Flyer for days events>>

Congratulations to Housing Justice Marathon runners
Congratulations to our team of Marathon runners who completed the course in the warm weather on Sunday
For details of individual times read the news release>>

Good luck to our London Marathon runners on Sunday!
Six runners will be competing in the London Marathon on Sunday to raise monney for Housing Justice. In total we hope to raise over £10,000 for our work with homeless and badly housed people. All will be running in distinctive Housing Justice vests so watch out for them in the crowds and cheer them on!
See the news release>>

MPs debate temporary accommodation
Regent's Park and Kensington, North MP Karen Buck secured a debate on the use of temporary accommodation in the Westminster City Council area. The debate is a sad summary of the poor conditions, instability and cost of using temporary accommodation and the impact it has on her constituents.
Read the full debate>>

Average home now costs £205,286
Government figures show that the average home now costs £205,286 in the UK. In 2006 house prices increased by 10.9% overall meaning that the average house increased in value by over £1500 per month, or £50 per day. The most expensive housing is found in London, closely followed by the South East, South West and East of England.
CLG - House Price Index January 2007>>

Homelessness falls...
The latest government homelessness figures for England and Wales show that in the last quarter of 2006 17,310 households were accepted as homeless by local authorities. This is 18% lower than in the same period in 2005 and the lowest level since the 1980s. The government has attributed the fall to successful implementation of the 2002 Homelessness Act which placed new duties on local authorities to prevent as well as respond to homelessness.
...But 90,000 families still in temporary accommodation
The number of homeless households in temporary accommodation whilst awaiting permanent housing has also fallen, but not so dramatically. At the end of the quarter 89,510 households were in temporary accommodation – down 9% on 2005 but still more than double the level when Labour came to power in 1997. The government has given a commitment to reduce the number of families in temporary accommodation to 50,000 by 2010.
CLG - Statutory Homelessness 4th Quarter, 2006 England

And 1.6million on housing waiting lists
Other government figures show that there are over 1.6million households in England on social housing waiting lists.

Housing Justice supports Livesimply
Housing Justice has added its support to the Livesimply network.
Further information is available on the Livesimply website www.livesimply.org.uk>>

CHAS CL advertise for Assistant Director
CHAS Central London, one of the Housing Justice CHAS network of hacs, are advertsiing for a new Assistant Director. The job advert is available here. Further information on CHAS CL is available on their website www.chascl.org.uk.

KCAH advertise for new Operations Director
Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness, one of the Housing Justice CHAS network of hacs, are advertising for a new Operations Director. The job advert is available here - further information on KCAH is available on their website www.kcah.org.uk.

Guide Neigbourhoods Network Conference
The Guide Neighbourhoods Network Conference will take place on Monday 26 February in Birmingham. This will be a practical one day event focused on resident-led regeneration. Further information is available on the Events page of the Housing Justice Regenerate section>>

Housing Justice supports National Housing Federation's fuel poverty campaign
Housing Justice is supporting this campaign which is calling on fuel companies to stop penalising households who use pre-payment fuel meters to buy their electricity and gas. Families using these meters who are usually among the poorest in society are charged more for their fuel than other households. Further information is available on the NHF website www.housing.org.uk/fuel.

Housing Justice supports Law Society's What Price Justice campaign
Housing justice has signed up to support the Law Society's What Price Justice campaign to guarantee an adequately funded legal aid system ensuring quality representation and access to justice for all. An Early Day Motion (EDM 537) has been tabled in Parliament on this matter - click here to see if your MP has signed it. Further information is on the Campaign website www.whatpricejustice.lawsociety.org.uk

Housing Justice contribute to schools homelessness resource book
Housing Justice have contributed several sections to Homelessness a publication produced by Independence Press in their Issues series of resource books aimed at A Level students. Further information on the book is available on the publisher's website>>

Housing Justice questions need for intentionality test for homeless people
Following the screening of the BBC 1 programme Evicted Housing Justice submitted a letter to the Guardian raising the problems caused by the administration of Housing Benefit and the application of intentionality tests to homeless people, it was grouped with four others under the title The problem of the 'intentionally' homeless Guardian 5 December 2006>>

Robina Rafferty presented with Faithworks award
Housing Justice's first Chief Executive Robina Rafferty MBE who retired this summer has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by Faithworks for her "unstinting dedication to issues of housing and homelessness in the UK over a 30-year career" Robina was presented with the award by the Rev Steve Chalke at a ceremony held on 7 November 2006 hosted by the Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP and Gary Streeter MP in the House of Commons.

Homelessness Sunday 28 January 2007: No Home No Justice
Homelessness Sunday 2007 will be held on 28 January 2007. The theme for the 15th Homelessness Sunday is No Home – No Justice.

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. In contrast Homelessness Sunday will focus on some of the injustices that are linked with homelessness. The Resource Pack will feature material on affordability; the shortage of social housing; rural homelessness; homeless and destitute asylum seekers and the problems faced by Central European nationals in Britain who are not entitled to welfare benefits. For further information on the packs please contact Ellen Byrne on 020 7723 7273 or email hs@ housingjustice.org.uk or see the Homelessness Sunday website www.homelessness-sunday.org.uk.

Empty Homes Agency busts the EDMO myths
Following controversy over the implementation of Empty Dwelling Management Orders the Empty Homes Agency has launched a myth buster which explains the real situation of this important measure that could potentially bring thousands of empty homes back into use Download from EHA website >>

Ken Leech's reflection at the launch of Housing Justice UNLEASH
Ken Leech's inspirational reflection on church action to fight poverty and oppression which he gave at the launch of Housing Justice UNLEASH is now available in the Worship section>>

 

 

 

Housing Justice fields team of three runners in 2006 London Marathon
Congratulations to Mark Allen of Bristol, Robbie Parks of Oxford and Dave Sharpley of Gillingham, Kent who all successfully completed the London Marathon raising Money for Housing Justice.

Robbie Parks of Oxford, pictured, ran the Marathon in a time of 3 hours 20 minutes