Housing Justice News Release 12 December 2005
For immediate release
Housing Justice calls on churches to build happiness by preventing homelessness
Christian homelessness charity Housing Justice has reacted to the publication of the statutory homelessness figures today by calling on churches to take practical measures to prevent homelessness.
The government figures show that for the fifth quarter in a row over 100,000 families in England and Wales are homeless and living in temporary accommodation including, it is estimated, 150,000 children.
On Homelessness Sunday, 29 January 2006, churches will have an opportunity to reflect on the problems of homelessness and what they can do to lessen or prevent the effects.
Director of External Affairs at Housing Justice Alison Gelder commented “Housing Justice is calling on churches to build happiness by taking practical action to prevent homelessness.”
“We know many churches are already picking up the pieces of broken lives by helping homeless people who fall outside the government's statistics - single men, destitute asylum seekers and people from countries like Poland who have come here to work and fallen on hard times.”
“We don't want churches to do the government's job for them but where there are actions we can take we should do them. Whether it is by helping people to stay in their homes through befriending, supporting housing and debt advice services or by encouraging the building of appropriate and affordable housing in our local areas churches have a role to play in preventing homelessness.”
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Notes
Government figures released by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 12/12/2005 show that in the third quarter of 2005 there were 101,020 households living in temporary accommodation including 74,180 households with children or a pregnant woman. Further information on the statutory homelessness figures is available on the ODPM website www.odpm.gov.uk
It is estimated that in addition to the people included in the statutory homelessness figure there are as many as 400,000 ‘non-statutory’ homeless people who are not eligible for re-housing. Included in this group are people in hostels, squats, on friends’ floors and in overcrowded accommodation - mostly single people and childless couples as well as people from the new member states of the European Union and ‘failed’ asylum seekers who have no right to re-housing or benefits.
About Homelessness Sunday 29 January 2006
Homelessness Sunday, now in its thirteenth year, is a day of ecumenical prayer and action in churches and local communities around England, Scotland and Wales. Typical events include church services with a homelessness theme, fundraising for local homelessness projects, and awareness-raising activities such as sleep-outs.
On 29 January 2006 the theme of Homelessness Sunday is Build happiness Stop homelessness. This was developed to show how everybody (as individuals or as members of churches) can build happiness and stop homelessness by thinking about the issues and offering practical help. More than 2,000 churches take part in Homelessness Sunday each year and thousands of pounds is raised for local and national homelessness charities.
The Homelessness Sunday Pack, available from Housing Justice for £5.50, includes worship ideas, material for use with children's and youth groups and facts, figures and stories about practical measures that churches can do to build happiness by stopping homelessness. For more information see www.homelessness-sunday.org.uk.
Homelessness Sunday is organised by the Homelessness Sunday Partnership of Housing Justice, Housing Justice Wales and Scottish Churches Housing Action. Homelessness Sunday is supported and endorsed by a wide range of denominations and organisations.
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