Housing Justice News Release 16 November 2006
For immediate release
Housing Justice calls on government to recognise importance of housing advice in preventing homelessness
Christian homelessness charity Housing Justice today called on the government to recognise the importance of housing advice as it marked the 50th anniversary of the foundation of CHAS, the Catholic Housing Aid Society, one of the organisations that formed Housing Justice in 2003.
Housing Justice Chief Executive Alison Gelder commented “CHAS was founded in 1956 to tackle the problem of homelessness. It pioneered housing advice services through CHAS branches around the country. Independent housing advice is widely acknowledged as being the best means of helping people to avoid homelessness.”
Since 1956 CHAS and now Housing Justice have worked to offer advice and advocacy to help people solve their housing problems and campaigned for government action to address the underlying problems of homelessness.
Gelder continued “Over the last 50 years the CHAS housing advice centres have prevented homelessness among many thousands of families and single people through independent housing advice and advocacy. This work continues today with our network of 12 Housing Justice CHAS housing advice centres around the country.”
Speaking of the film Cathy Come Home which came out in 1966, 10 years after CHAS was established Gelder added “In 1966 the then Director of CHAS Father Eamonn Casey noted that Cathy’s family could have avoided the misery of homelessness at any one of five points in the story if they had consulted a CHAS housing adviser.”
“If the situation were repeated today Cathy and her family would be rehoused by her local authority housing department but might face months, or even years, in temporary accommodation. We are today calling on the government to build more socially rented homes so that Cathy and her family would not have to suffer in bad housing.”
Ends
The 50th anniversary of the founding of CHAS will be marked by a Jubilee Mass celebrated by Archbishop Peter Smith at Westminster Cathedral, London SW1 on Monday 20 November 2006, starting at 5:30pm. Please inform Luke Evans if you would like to attend.
Key dates in the history of CHAS
1956 CHAS is founded by Maisie Ward Sheed, a writer and publisher, and Mollie Walsh, a grass roots activist. Although most of CHAS’ funds were raised by Catholics, CHAS’ services have always been available to the whole community. No one has ever been asked about their religion.
1961 CHAS pioneers local housing aid centres, providing independent, free and confidential advice to people in housing need, with the emphasis on prevention of homelessness.
1966 CHAS co-founds Shelter, the Director of CHAS Father Eamonn Casey, is Shelter's first Chair. Shelter builds on public outrage at family homelessness expressed after showing of film Cathy Come Home.
1970 Greve report on Homelessness in London commends the importance of independent advice centres like CHAS.
1977 CHAS lobbying plays a key role in the introduction of the 1977 Housing (Homeless Persons) Act, which for the first time gives rights to housing to families with children and single parents.
1981 CHAS helps to found UNLEASH to support churches in tackling homelessness in London.
1985 CHAS’ Assistant Director contributes housing section to Faith in the City published by the Church of England.
1989 CHAS Director helps to set up the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Homelessness and Housing Need, and becomes its Clerk.
1993 The first national, ecumenical Homelessness Sunday takes place, organised by CHAS and CNHC.
1996 The 40th anniversary of the foundation of CHAS is marked with campaign on hidden homelessness.
1999 Cardinal Hume launches CHAS’ debt advice Service - a service that is much in demand today.
1999/2000 CHAS and CNHC run Green Pepper Campaign to influence what became 2002 Housing Act.
2003 CHAS and CNHC merge to form Housing Justice.
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 –in Bradford, Bristol, Croydon, Dewsbury, Halifax, Huddersfield, Kingston upon Thames, Leeds, Central London, Middlesbrough, Oswestry and York- 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