Housing Justice News Release 12 December 2007
For immediate release
Housing Justice thanks first Chair Bishop David Walker
Christian homelessness charity Housing Justice today thanked David Walker, Bishop of Dudley, as he stepped down after completing almost five years as Chair of the organisation.
Previously Chair of the Churches National Housing Coalition (CNHC) Bishop David was responsible for overseeing the merger of CNHC with the Catholic Housing Aid Society (CHAS) to form Housing Justice.
Housing Justice Chief Executive Alison Gelder commented “We would like to thank David for all his work as Chair of Housing Justice and prior to that with CNHC. His vision and commitment to creating an ecumenical Christian housing charity has enabled Housing Justice to establish itself by building on the strengths of both CHAS and CNHC. We wish him well in the future and know that he will continue to offer us his support and prayers.”
David Walker commented “It has been a great honour to Chair Housing Justice these past few years, I leave an organisation that is firmly established as the churches’ voice on housing and homelessness.”
He continued “As a result partly of Housing Justice’s campaigns the political climate has shifted decisively in favour of building more housing. The need for more good quality housing is clear. The latest government figures show that there are still over 80,000 homeless families facing an unhappy Christmas in temporary accommodation as well as 500,000 families living in overcrowded housing.”
Following David Walker’s departure Housing Justice is advertising for a new Chair and Board Members.
Alison Gelder commented “We are advertising for a new Chair and Board members to take the organisation forward over the next few years. We welcome applications from people who will be able to offer strategic vision to develop the work of Housing Justice and lead it through a period of transition. We are looking for individuals to take up these challenging but, we hope, satisfying roles at an exciting time for housing policy and for Housing Justice.”
Details of the positions of Chair of Housing Justice and Board members are available on the charity’s website www.housingjustice.org.uk
Ends
Notes
The Right Reverend David Walker is Suffragan Bishop of Dudley in the Diocese of Worcester.
The latest statutory homelessness figures, published on 10 December 2007 show that in England:
82,750 homeless households were in temporary accommodation at the end of the third quarter of 2007 under the terms of the homelessness legislation.
76% of these households included children.
Government figures show that at least 500,000 families including 1million children live in poor quality overcrowded housing.
Source: Communities and Local Government department www.communities.gov.uk
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 10 housing advice centres –in Bradford, Bristol, Croydon, Dewsbury, Huddersfield, Kingston upon Thames, Leeds, Central London, Middlesbrough and Oswestry - provides 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 amongst other activities.
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 is working with Scottish Churches Housing Action, Church Action on Poverty and the Church Urban Fund to coordinate Poverty and Homelessness Action Week 26 January – 3 February 2008 - a week long series of events to highlight the problems of poverty and homelessness in Britain today.
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