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Homes or assets? Restoring faith in housing

A roundtable event discussing church responses to the recession and economic crisis. Organised by Church Action on Poverty and Housing Justice.

What
When Mar 01, 2010
from 11:00 AM to 03:30 PM
Where Arthur Rank Centre, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire
Contact Name Janet Ashton
Contact Email
Contact Phone 0161 236 9321
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"Without radical action many people in construction will lose their jobs, and up to five million people could find themselves on housing waiting lists by the end of 2010.”
David Orr, National Housing Federation

Chaired by David Walker, Bishop of Dudley and chair of hact.
Keynote contributors include:

  • Caroline Spelman, MP for Meriden and Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
  • Stuart Burgess, Rural Advocate (tbc)
  • Alison Gelder, Chief Executive, Housing Justice
  • Stuart Freeman, CHAS Central London
  • Richard Trahair, Diocese of Salisbury
  • Sue Simmonds, South London Habitat for Humanity

In the face of the unprecedented economic crisis, it is important for all of us to reflect on the many challenges that we are now faced with – and which are likely to have profound impacts on families, communities, jobs, housing, financial services and wider economies. 

The churches have rich resources to draw on – not least the succession of commissions and reports on church, society and economy, from Faith in the City and Unemployment and the Future of Work through to The Common Good and Faithful Cities.  What insights can we gain from revisiting this work – and how much does the new situation require new thinking?

“In no country does the market system provide good low-cost housing. This is a matter of prime importance and must everywhere be a public responsibility. Few things are more visibly at odds with the good society than badly housed or homeless people.”
JK Galbraith

This is one of a series of events across the country, exploring the impact of the crisis in relation to a specific issue and/or region. This event will bring together 30-40 people of faith engaged at all levels within the churches and other faith communities, in responding to the economic crisis – and in particular to examine the following questions:

  • How can we provide the housing we need as a society in future?
  • What impact is the current recession having on housing and homelessness? 
  • What implications does this have for those directly affected?
  • What implications does it have for future housing policy?
  • What positive contribution can faith communities play in the crisis?

Partners

The event is being organised by Church Action on Poverty and Housing Justice and sponsored by Triodos Bank.

Format

The format of the event will include the following elements:

  • hearing at first hand from people directly affected by the economic crisis;
  • social and economic analysis of the current situation;
  • dialogue with senior politicians, faith and economic leaders. 

Outline programme

10.30am   Registration and refreshments
11.00am   Welcome
11.10am   Voices from the edge: Housing and homelessness in a recession: Presentations from local projects and people with firsthand experience of the issues
11.30am   Keynote inputs - Reflections on the future of housing and homelessness
12.40pm   Lunch
1.30pm     Political response: Caroline Spelman MP
2.10pm   Plenary discussion with panel:
3.30pm   Close

Booking arrangements

Download the booking form and send it to Church Action on Poverty to book your place.

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Church Action on Poverty is a national ecumenical Christian social justice charity, committed to tackling poverty in the UK. It works in partnership with churches and with people in poverty themselves to find solutions to poverty, locally, nationally and globally.