The Housing Crisis in London: mobilising the church

A one day conference organised by London Churches Group for Social Action, The Joint Public Issues Team and Housing Justice 

Wednesday 10^th October 9.00am - 3.30pm

Trinity House, 4 Chapel Court Borough High Street London SE1 1HW

Background

·         There is an acute and growing shortage of affordable housing in London i.e. affordable to people on benefits and low to average incomes.

·         Govt Welfare Reform, including caps to Local Housing Allowance and the planned Universal Benefit, are further impoverishing the poorest and making people homeless. Larger families and single people under 35 are most at risk.

·         While there is concern, many people, including Christians, are complacent about these issues. Housing is now commonly identified as a financial asset and therefore a “private” matter.

Aims of this conference

To identify the issues, and develop an agenda for action around which Christians and churches can mobilise. The conference will address the housing crisis in London both in terms of practical action - what individual Christians and Churches can do - and also identify policy responses to address the underlying structural issues.

One specific outcome of the conference, it is hoped, will be a signed declaration and call to action to the wider church.

Who is this conference for?

Church leaders of all denominations; Christian housing professionals e.g. people working in housing associations, local authorities, housing developers, homelessness services; Christian activists concerned about housing and homelessness

OUTLINE Timetable

9.00 Coffee and registration

9.30 Welcome and opening remarks: Rt Rev. Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Woolwich

Chair: Terry Drummond, London Church Leaders Executive

9.40 Keynote 1: Poverty

Speaker: Paul Morrison, Methodist/Joint Public Issues Team

10.00 Keynote 2: Financial Policy

Speaker: Kate Barker CBE, Author of The Barker Review; NED, Yorkshire Building Society. 

10.20 Keynote 3: Housing supply

Speaker: Prof Steve Wilcox, Centre for Housing Policy, York University

10.40 Keynote 4: Fair Rents not Benefits Caps

Speaker: Alison Gelder, Director of Housing Justice

11.00 COFFEE

11.30 -1.00 Workshops

Led by keynote speakers

·         Financial Policy

·         Housing supply

·         Fair Rents not Benefits Caps 

1.00-2.00 LUNCH

2.00 – 3.00 Plenary – feedback from workshops, identifying common agenda for action.

3.00 Next steps. Can a joint statement be agreed and issued?

3.15 Closing remarks. Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

3.30 end