Churches focus on homelessness

Homelessness Sunday is a chance for churches to focus on what can be done to help the growing number of people who have nowhere to live, writes Joanna Whitney from the Christian charity Housing Justice.

With the number of people experiencing homelessness rising sharply around the UK since the pandemic, this year’s Homelessness Sunday is an important way to raise awareness of the plight of so many who have become marginalised in our society, and to reflect on what we as churches and communities can do to help alleviate a very serious problem on our doorstep.

Housing Justice organises Homelessness Sunday on the Sunday before World Homeless Day each year, and this year’s Homelessness Sunday falls on October 8. The theme is ‘Love and Justice’ as this is a key part of Housing Justice’s mission to alleviate homelessness across Wales. The charity, which was formed from a merger between the Catholic Housing Association, The Churches National Housing Coalition and Church Action on Homelessness, has expanded dramatically over the last three years and now employs a dedicated team of 13 staff across Wales, and numbers former Archbishop of Wales, Bishop John Davies, among its Board of Trustees.

The charity provides a range of resources for churches and community groups wishing to mark Homelessness Sunday, including pre-recorded sermons, prayers, hymn suggestions, Junior Church resources, and information about homelessness via a dedicated webpage and these are available for anyone planning their own Homelessness Sunday service. They may also be able to provide your church with a speaker, capacity allowing.

Housing Justice runs a number of different initiatives that address housing need in all its forms, including a hosting programme for destitute asylum seekers from around the world in Cardiff and Newport; a homelessness prevention programme called ‘Citadel’ in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Wrexham; and the Faith in Affordable Housing programme which runs across Wales.

Through the Faith in Affordable Housing programme, Housing Justice works with churches who have derelict or surplus land that they would like to use as part of their Christian mission to alleviate homelessness and address the housing shortage. They help churches identify what they could do in terms of selling land to one of their approved panel of not-for-profit Housing Associations for a fair price, and upgrade or re-purpose spaces they wish to keep to meet their parishioners’ needs.

The initiative began in 2016 and since then eight sites have been completed in Wales creating 78 new affordable homes. A further 54 sites are in development which will create 400 new homes. We are always keen to talk to more churches about their options and you can find out further information about the programme by emailing the Church in Wales Property department and Housing Justice.

If you would like to support Housing Justice’s work by making a much-needed donation, or by volunteering on the Citadel programme or as a host, you can find out more on their website here.

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