Housing Justice News Release 19 May 2006
For immediate release
Housing Justice and UNLEASH offer innovative speed-seminars to address problems of homelessness in London
Homelessness charities Housing Justice and UNLEASH (Church Action on Homelessness) will formally announce their merger at a conference, to be held in central London on Tuesday 23 May, entitled From rough sleeping to affordable homes for all: what should churches be doing?
At the conference speakers will set out the local and national contexts of homelessness policy and the practical solutions being offered by churches and other agencies.
The conference will also offer an innovative series of ‘speed seminars’ -20 minute introductory talks based on speed dating sessions- where participants will be able to hear examples of the practical work churches are doing to tackle the problem of homelessness in London. The organisers hope the speed seminars will inspire people to take things further and develop new services.
Participants in the conference will be able to hear about the homelessness prevention work carried out by independent advice centres like CHAS Central London as well as the important support provided by day centres, night shelters, and family centres. The conference will also hear from initiatives such as Streetwise Opera, Nightstop, the Empty Homes Agency and Green Pastures which aim to tackle homelessness in innovative ways.
Chief Executive of Housing Justice Robina Rafferty commented "UNLEASH was created 25 years ago by Housing Justice’s predecessor and the Anglican Diocese of Southwark to improve standards of accommodation for homeless people. We have worked very closely together over the years, and share the same values and goals. The merger is the logical next step if we want to strengthen the churches’ voice in these matters.”
Rafferty highlighted the role played by churches in preventing homelessness saying “churches play a vital role on the ground working to support homeless and badly housed people and prevent homelessness. Often the churches are the only organisations that are there for destitute asylum seekers, homeless Eastern European workers who are not entitled to benefits and rough sleepers who, for whatever reason, are not able to access other homelessness services.”
Turning to long-term solutions Rafferty noted “21 years ago the church produced Faith in the City which highlighted the problems of poor housing in London and other UK cities. Since then the problems, especially in London, have got much worse for those at the bottom of society. The only sustainable long-term solution is for the government to build more affordable housing – only then will we be able to truly prevent homelessness.”
Well known Urban Theologian and former Chair of UNLEASH Ken Leech commented “In the history of the church in relation to housing and homelessness, there has been a movement away from retreat i.e. doing nothing, towards rescue: helping individuals but avoiding conflict with principalities and powers. The gulf between rich and poor has grown under New Labour while the obsession with security has made resistance more difficult. The fact that the church's values are in fundamental conflict with those of governments must be recovered, recognised and reaffirmed.”
Ends
The conference will take place on Tuesday 23 May 2006 at St Paul’s Church, Robert Adam Street London W1 starting at 10am.
Invited speakers include Robina Rafferty, Chief Executive of Housing Justice, Steve Guyon of the Department for Communities and Local Government and theologian Ken Leach. Over 15 organisations will be running speed seminars outlining their work.
Representatives of Housing Justice UNLEASH are available for interview.
About Housing Justice
Housing Justice is the national voice of Christian action to prevent
homelessness and bad housing.
Housing Justice was formed in April 2003 by the merger of two
long-standing housing charities, the Catholic Housing Aid Society (CHAS)
and the Churches National Housing Coalition (CNHC). In January 2006
Housing Justice merged with UNLEASH (Church Action on Homelessness in London). Housing Justice brings together more than 60 years 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. In total Housing Justice is
actively involved in more than 35 communities across England and Wales.
The Housing Justice CHAS network of 12 housing advice centres provide
practical support to people with housing and related problems.
Housing Justice UNLEASH works to support church-based housing and
homelessness projects in London.
Housing Justice Regenerate, funded by the government'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 learning and offer support.
Housing Justice works with Scottish Churches Housing Action to organise the annual Homelessness Sunday, a day when churches are encouraged to reflect on the problems of homelessness and bad housing. Homelessness Sunday will be held on Sunday 28 January 2007.
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.
Further information on Housing Justice is available at
www.housingjustice.org.uk
Contact
Luke Evans 020 7723 7273
email media@housingjustice.org.uk