BUILDING COMMUNITY Local church responses to the housing crisis Miriam Brittenden and Tom Sefton, with Alice Braybrook April 2019 FOREWORD The Grenfell Tower disaster of June 2017 in North Kensington became almost at once a symbol of our country’s housing crisis. It served as a stark reminder of how we have marginalised whole sections of the population in sub-standard housing, but also brought to the surface the resilience and power of local communities in responding to this tragic event. Most of us are affected in some way by the housing crisis. Indeed, we are seeing mounting problems, from unaffordable rents and insecure tenancies to poor quality housing and gross inequalities in housing wealth. But as is too often the case, it is the poorest who are bearing the brunt. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says that judgment is linked to justice, namely, in the way in which we treat those who are most vulnerable and weakest. Out of that extraordinary passage comes the Christian call to work for the welfare of everyone in our society, including shelter and a good home for all. With that goal in mind, the Archbishop of Canterbury has set up a Commission on Housing, Church and Community. The Church – working with other public, private and voluntary organisations that share this vision – has a significant contribution to make in this area. We have land and resources that can be used to help meet the need for more affordable housing. We have social capital that can be used to uphold people’s right to a decent and secure home. We have a long history and expertise in community-building that can be used to shape new developments where people can flourish. This independent report was commissioned as a discussion starter for this Commission, and it highlights the extraordinary work local churches and dioceses are already doing to help tackle housing problems they see in their community. I commend it to you and hope it will stimulate reflection upon the examples it contains, learning from both the challenges that have been faced and the successes that have been enjoyed. Most importantly however, I hope that we can use them as inspiration – and motivation – to do all we can to re-claim the purpose of housing. For if our focus were to be on building good homes and strong communities, not merely units of accommodation, our whole approach to housing policy might be transformed. The Rt Revd Dr Graham Tomlin 2 BUILDING COMMUNITY CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 INTRODUCTION 6 CASE STUDY 1: EAST LONDON Using surplus church land for affordable housing 9 CASE STUDY 2: GLOUCESTER DIOCESE A missional approach to church land and assets 15 CASE STUDY 3: ST GEORGE’S, STAMFORD Practical support for people at risk of homelessness 21 CASE STUDY 4: ST GEORGE-IN-THE-EAST, SHADWELL Campaigning for more affordable housing 27 CASE STUDY 5: ST FRANCIS & ST BARNABAS, WIGAN Advocacy and accommodation in response to local need 33 CASE STUDY 6: ST STEPHEN’S, MANOR PARK Developing leaders and campaigning for tenants’ rights 37 CASE STUDY 7: NEW HOUSING HUB Building community on new housing estates 41 CONCLUSIONS 45 BUILDING COMMUNITY 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The housing crisis is multi-faceted, and the Church is engaging with it at many levels – local, regional, and national. This research looks at a mix of church-linked housing initiatives, identifying the housing issues facing each community; the model of engagement, and the theological rationale for the church’s involvement. The purpose is to inform the work of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Housing, Church and Community, and provide learning and inspiration for other parishes and dioceses. Here are some of the key themes emerging from the report. 4 BUILDING COMMUNITY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Continued BUILDING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS • Church-led responses to the housing crisis are about more than building homes or supporting • Close partnerships with other organisations - individuals; they are foremost about building councils, housing associations and other local strong communities. agencies - is key to the success and sustainability of church-linked housing initiatives. • The way we tackle housing injustice is as important as the outcomes. Developing • The Church’s contribution is respected and valued relationships and people’s sense of agency is as by many organisations. Its convening power valuable as the change itself. has huge potential in terms of facilitating future housing initiatives. BROADER MISSION • Partnership working is not always easy. • Church-linked housing initiatives should be understood as a core part of the Church’s broader EXTERNAL SUPPORT mission – an embodiment of Christ’s teachings - It is difficult for churches to engage effectively on with a particular focus on being a church of and • housing issues without some external support, for the poor. especially from the regional and national • There needs to be a shift away from a mentality structures of the Church of England. Having the of raising funds for the wider church as an end active support of the diocese or local Bishop can be in itself towards a broader, longer-term vision, very helpful. which includes serving the common good The role of committed individuals with a through community-building and the provision of • particular vision or professional expertise is a affordable housing. critical factor in initiating and shaping church-led • Affordable housing developments on church land responses to local housing issues. We need ways to could potentially be part of a wider strategy of share this knowledge and expertise more widely financial sustainability for dioceses and parishes. amongst churches. • Likewise, individual Christians could consider how they can use their wealth to help alleviate the STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES housing crisis, for example through investing in • Churches face significant structural challenges in supported accommodation schemes. developing surplus land for affordable housing, specifically around planning fees and restrictions. Local authorities could consider providing more CHURCH-LINKED HOUSING • support to churches or community groups who INITIATIVES SHOULD BE want to use their land for affordable housing – for UNDERSTOOD AS A CORE example, by providing free meetings at the pre- PART OF THE CHURCH’S planning stage, or a system of grants or loans to BROADER MISSION – AN cover pre-planning costs. EMBODIMENT OF CHRIST’S TEACHINGS - WITH A • The Church of England, at all levels, could explore PARTICULAR FOCUS ON whether a more proactive, entrepreneurial BEING A CHURCH OF AND approach to the management of its financial and FOR THE POOR land assets could be a missional opportunity. BUILDING COMMUNITY 5 INTRODUCTION Britain is in the midst of a housing crisis. The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Commission on Housing, Church and Community will seek to bring It is a crisis which undermines the a Christian contribution to the debate about how material, physical, mental and spiritual to ensure people are well-housed and how housing policy can be re-imagined, with a focus on building wellbeing of the country but one which the strong and supportive communities. The Commission Church of England is uniquely positioned aims to offer a vision for housing, informed by to respond to, with its presence in every Christian faith, and propose changes which could shape the trajectory of future housing policy, as well community and a concern for the well- as recommending areas for action by the Church of being of the whole community, especially England itself. the poorest and most vulnerable. It is both important and exciting to acknowledge that there is already a significant amount of church engagement in tackling local housing issues. This BRITAIN IS IN THE MIDST OF A research looks at a wide range of church-linked HOUSING CRISIS. IT IS A CRISIS housing initiatives, identifying the housing issues WHICH UNDERMINES THE facing each community; the model of engagement, MATERIAL, PHYSICAL, MENTAL and the theological rationale for the church’s AND SPIRITUAL WELLBEING OF involvement. THE COUNTRY BUT ONE WHICH THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO RESPOND TO, WITH ITS PRESENCE IN EVERY COMMUNITY 6 BUILDING COMMUNITY INTRODUCTION Continued AIMS METHODOLOGY The purpose of this research is to examine a mix of This research explores the nature of church-led different church-linked housing initiatives across responses to local housing issues through a series of the country, in order to inform the work of the in-depth interviews with church leaders, workers, Commission, and provide learning and inspiration and members, as well as other local people or for other parishes and dioceses. organisations who have been involved in, or impacted by, these initiatives. The key research questions were: A key focus, underpinning all of the research, What housing issues are churches seeing and • is the Commission’s interest in building strong responding to in their local area? communities, considering how this has been • What impact is the housing crisis having on these modelled in the relationships fostered within church communities? projects, and in the housing solutions that are being • What are churches and dioceses doing to tackle pursued. these issues? The research consists of seven case studies, three • What are the theological motivations of which are London-based and four which are underpinning this work? based in other parts of England. The case studies have been purposively selected to cover a range • What characterises the different approaches that of housing issues, including: releasing surplus churches have taken? church-owned land for affordable housing, helping • How is community being built in the process? to build community on new housing developments, and offering practical support to people at risk of What lessons have been learnt, which could guide • homelessness. The case studies look at a range of future church engagement around housing, and different approaches to bringing about social change.