Homes or assets? Restoring faith in housing

NB This event has been postponed. Please contact Church Action on Poverty or Housing Justice if you would like to be informed when it is rescheduled.

When	Oct 20, 2009 from 11:10 AM to 03:10 PM
Where	Bristol
Contact Name	Janet Ashton
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

In the face of the unprecedented economic crisis, it is important for faith communities 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 seven events being organised across the country, with the support and involvement of the main Christian denominations, to explore the impact of the crisis in relation to a specific issue and/or region. Download a list of all the events and a booking form here.

The Bristol hearing/roundtable 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 make in the crisis?

Partners

The event will be co-sponsored by Church Action on Poverty and Housing Justice. It is hoped that the event may be 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.

Outputs

The event will be written up, documenting key issues and recommendations. Reports will be circulated through partners�� regional networks and used to inform the production of one of a series of Just Church study/action booklets for use by local churches nationally.

Keynote contributors

There will be input from Neil Griffiths (National Housing Federation) and Jacqui McCluskey (Homeless Link).

Potential/outline programme

10.30am    Registration and refreshments
11.00am    Welcome: Rt Revd Mike Hill, Bishop of Bristol (tbc)
11.10am    Voices from the edge: Housing and homelessness in a recession: Presentations from local projects and people with firsthand experience of the issues
11.40am    Keynote speeches
12.40pm    Lunch
1.30pm    Political response: Grant Shaps MP (tbc)
2.10pm    Roundtable discussion, feedback and plenary discussion with panel: Richard Capie, Chartered Institute of Housing; Sue Cooper, Triodos Bank; Alison Gelder, Chief Executive, Housing Justice (chair); Rt Revd David Walker, Bishop of Dudley
3.30pm        Close

Related content: Faithful cities in a time of economic crisis