Housing Justice News Release 02 July 2007
For immediate release
Housing Justice announce conference: Action on Homelessness – a hand out or a hand up?
Christian homelessness charity Housing Justice today announced details of a major conference to be held in central London on Thursday 19 July 2007.
Entitled Action on homelessness – a hand out or a hand up? the event will bring together representatives from churches, other faith groups, homelessness charities, academic institutions, housing providers, the media and central and local government to consider questions around how we can prevent long term homelessness.
The conference will consider the tensions between meeting immediate needs and moving people towards independence, especially those with multiple and complex needs. People with experience of homelessness are especially welcome.
The event will be facilitated by staff from charity Groundswell UK and will use Open Space Technology, an innovative system which allows conference participants to set the agenda, form discussion groups and use their own contributions and questions to drive the event.
Conference organiser Alastair Murray of Housing Justice commented “Voluntary church and faith groups have always been very good at giving essential help like food, clothes and even shelter to people who are homeless or on the margins but not always so good at encouraging people to move on towards independence. This event will give space to the debate about how we should be helping people who are homeless and on the margins. There are growing tensions between the approaches to homelessness of some Christians and people of other faiths and those of the government and larger charities funded by government to provide homelessness services.”
He continued “We hope that this event will allow everyone to share their thoughts on the issues so that we can work towards an effective solution. We all want the same outcome – to prevent homelessness.”
Speaking about the format for the day Murray commented “this conference will use Open Space Technology which is different to traditional conference formats. At many conferences participants often gain the most not from the inspiring speeches but from the conversations that take place during the breaks. Open Space Technology brings this kind of interaction to the fore - participants’ own questions, interests and concerns will drive the event. As a result we hope all of the issues will be covered with each participant able to tailor the conference to their own specific interests.”
ENDS
Further information
The event will take place on Thursday 19 July 2007 at St Pauls Church, Robert Adam Street, London W1V 3HW. Nearest tube stations are Baker Street and Bond Street.
9am Coffee and registration for 9:30 start.
To book a place at the conference click here to download the booking form and return it to Housing Justice or contact Ellen Byrne at Housing Justice – 020 7723 7273 / info@housingjustice.org.uk. Places cost £10 per person/ £5 for Housing Justice members/ free for unwaged.
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 11 housing advice centres –in Bradford, Bristol, Croydon, Dewsbury, Halifax, Huddersfield, Kingston upon Thames, Leeds, Central London, Middlesbrough and Oswestry - provide practical support to people with housing and related problems.
Housing Justice UNLEASH works to support church-based housing and homelessness projects in London . It is responsible for coordinating the Soup Run Forum.
Housing Justice Regenerate, funded by the government's Community Empowerment Division, 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, and for, homeless and badly housed people of all faiths, 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 info@housingjustice.org.uk