Housing Justice News Release 19 October 2004
For immediate release
Housing Justice and Scottish Churches Housing Action join forces with Shelter to end bad housing
Housing Justice, Scottish Churches Housing Action and Shelter announced today (19 October) that they are joining forces to highlight the plight of over one million children suffering because of bad housing in Britain.
The three organisations will work in partnership to raise awareness within the Christian community of Shelter’s million children campaign, which aims to gain a commitment from government to end bad housing for the next generation of children.
The million children campaign was launched earlier this year with Toying with their future which revealed for the first time that over a million children who are growing up in overcrowded, unfit or emergency housing, suffer from serious health problems, poor education and have their future blighted. One in 12 children in Britain are more likely to develop diseases such as bronchitis, TB or asthma because of bad housing (1), and children who are homeless lose out on a quarter of their schooling (2).
Joining the campaign is a key action for the 2,000 plus churches taking part in next year’s Homelessness Sunday on 30 January 2005. Over the coming months a wide range of Christian publications will carry campaign cards, encouraging readers to show their support and sign up to the million children campaign. All signatures will be presented, along with thousands of others, to government.
As well as signing the campaign cards, there are plenty of other opportunities for the Christian community to show its support:
Homelessness Sunday – the theme of the 12th annual Homelessness Sunday, organised by Housing Justice and Scottish Churches Housing Action, is: ‘Homelessness hurts children and young people’. On 30 January 2005 well over 2,000 churches across the country are expected to mark the day with special services and events – as well as by signing up to the campaign.
Shelter’s nationwide red chair sit-in : Shelter’s red chair sit-in protest is visiting 26 towns across Britain over the next four months. Members of the public can show their support for the campaign by sitting in the chair when it comes to their area. The sit in will culminate in a major exhibition in the New Year in which the photographs of all who have taken part will be used.
The partnership, and the campaign itself, has already drawn support from a number of senior church figures.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the Archbishop of Westminster and President of Housing Justice said: “Poor housing blights children’s opportunities. We cannot simply look away. We cannot even be satisfied with charitable giving. If there is a systemic problem, we must play our part in highlighting it, and then looking for solutions.”
Rt Rev David Walker, Bishop of Dudley and Chair of Housing Justice said: “Churches believe children matter. We run schools, kids clubs, youth groups and many more activities to help them grow into a full and healthy life. We are there to hear their stories of deficient and unacceptable living conditions. Bad housing impairs their health, damages their education and adds stress to their family life. We can't walk by on the other side. Churches will take part in the million children campaign to highlight a situation we know has got to change. And that government has the key role to play.”
David Deeks, General secretary of the Methodist Church said: “I encourage church people of all denominations to join this campaign. One million badly housed children in twenty first century Britain is one million too many. Let us hope, and pray, that together we can encourage the government to take action."
Malcolm Duncan, Head of Mission and Social Affairs at the Evangelical Alliance said: "The statistics for children suffering due to bad housing conditions are truly shocking. On such an important issue it is only right that church people and secular agencies should join their voices as one."
Robina Rafferty, Chief Executive of Housing Justice said: "Our choice of theme for Homelessness Sunday 2005 reflects the growing concern of all our advice centres and church groups and projects round the country about the plight of homeless children. The important opportunity to join with Shelter offers us the chance to unite our campaigns and gain impact and strength from joint working, for the greater benefit of those who desperately need a home."
Adam Sampson, Director of Shelter said: “This partnership is an exciting and important development for Shelter. Many members of the Christian community already play a key role in supporting the work of each of our organisations. We believe that combining our efforts will allow us to raise even greater awareness within the Christian community of the million children campaign.”
Ends
References
(1) Shelter estimates based on official statistics of children living in overcrowded, temporary or unfit housing across England, Scotland and Wales
(2) Health Development Agency 2004 shows links between chronic or infectious diseases and mental problems and overcrowded, damp or temporary housing
(3) Shelter survey of families living in temporary accommodation
About Housing Justice
Housing Justice is the national voice of Christian action to prevent homelessness and bad housing. It was formed in April 2003 through the merger of two long-standing housing charities, the Catholic Housing Aid Society (CHAS) and the Churches National Housing Coalition (CNHC) bringing together more than 60 years of experience of working for change in the field of housing.
Housing Justice provides frontline services to people in housing need and campaigns to improve housing policy. Housing Justice funds a network of 10 housing advice agencies and numerous community projects, and develops models of good practice for frontline services that local groups can adopt. In total Housing Justice is actively involved in 35 communities across England and Wales.
Housing Justice Regenerate, funded by the Home Office’s Civil Renewal Unit, supports resident-led regeneration in 15 guide neighbourhoods across the UK. Regenerate brings together residents who have transformed their estates with those who want to embark on the regeneration process to share thinking and offer support.
Housing Justice works with and for homeless and badly housed people of all denominations, and with those who have no religious beliefs. All our services are offered to the whole community and, wherever possible, we work in partnership with others who share our values, regardless of religious beliefs.
For further information on Housing Justice see www.housingjustice.org.uk
Contact
Luke Evans 020 7723 7273
email media@housingjustice.org.uk