The issue of homelessness and housing is a pressing one across the country, and the housing crisis is particularly acute within Thames Valley due to the high cost of homes in the area. Homelessness can take many forms, with street homelessness (also called rough sleeping) the most visible and dangerous. Other types of homelessness include people living in temporary accommodation (night shelters, hostels, refugees) and sofa-surfing (living with friends or family, often the 'hidden homeless'). There are also people who, whilst housed, find themselves in unsuitable accommodation, perhaps due to dangerous or unhealthy living conditions, overcrowding, or the housing is unsuitable for their needs (e.g. accessibility requirements or transport connections). Renting homes can often be insecure, causing distribution and stress, and preventing people from connecting with and contributing to their communities.
When our homes are of decent quality, the comfort and security they provide enrich our lives and support our mental and physical health. It's essential that everyone has this foundation. The church must therefore call for affordable and suitable housing for everyone, as well as continue to support those who are currently homeless or vulnerably housed. Many churches are involved in responding to these needs through homeless shelters, soup kitchens and other initiatives. We are called as Christians to care for those who are without shelter, who are hungry, thirsty, and without access to essentials like clothing.
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice... Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter?" - Isaiah 58:6-7
Read:
- Dwelling Places: Housing and Homelessness in the Diocese of Oxford presents an overview of the current housing tenure and homelessness context, and offers a theological reflection about home, place, and belonging. The report explores the church's response to homelessness and housing need. It aims to equip churches to consider local needs, how they respond practically and collaboratively, and how we can all share the love of God with those who are homeless and in housing need.
- A Place to Call Home - A helpful resource from the Joint Public Issues Team for small groups to reflect on biblical texts relating to housing.
- Lost and Found: Faith and Spirituality in the Lives of Homeless People - the first study of homeless people's attitude to faith involving in-depth interviews with over 70 people.
- Coming Home - a Church of England report setting out a bold new vision for housing and community.
- A Framing Toolkit: How to talk about homes - essential guidance and tips from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation on how to communicate about the importance of decent and affordable homes as fundamental to a healthy, decent life.
- Consider the Toolkit on How to Talk about Home and Immigration from JRF
Mark Homelessness Sunday
Homelessness Sunday takes place on the Sunday before World Homeless Day (10 October) every year, with the aim of raising awareness among churches about the issues surrounding homelessness. Use this day to pray for people experiencing homelessness and the organisations working to support people and see an end to homelessness. Housing Justice provide resources for your church to use, including a Homelessness Sunday online church service, prayers, hymn suggestions, intergenerational service resources, the latest homelessness stats, a reflection on the lectionary reading, and ideas of what your church can do in response. Consider running a Homelessness Sunday service, or simply including specific prayers and a financial collection for a local homeless charity in your normal service. You could invite a speaker from a local project to share what they're doing, and the challenges and joys they face through this work.
Find out what these local and national organisations are doing, partner with them, pray for them, and consider volunteering:
Thames Valley
- Shelter Thames Valley offers a wide range of help and advice on all housing and homelessness issues.
- Slough Homeless Concern (SHOC) is a day centre which provides care for those experiencing homelessness in Slough, and those at risk of becoming so.
- Pilgrim Hearts Trust run drop-in centers in Bracknell, providing food, advice, and medical access, and offer mentorship to help people find housing, training, and employment.
- The Porch Oxford is an day centre open 6 days a week. They provide support for over 200 people a year to move away from addiction and dependency.
- The Gatehouse has a drop-in community centre in Oxford, offering a wide range of services and activities to adults who are homeless, vulnerably housed, on low or no income, or simply looking for company and community.
- Wycombe Homeless Connection seeks to reduce the harm homelessness causes people, and support people into emergency accomodation.
- Milton Keynes Homeless Partnership: YMCA MK, The Connection, Unity MK, and The Shelter MK have joined forces to support people experiencing homelessness in Milton Keynes, and develop collaborative solutions to homelessness.
- Launchpad provides help and support for anyone who is, or is at risk of becoming homeless across Reading.
- Oxfordshire Homeless Movement is a partnership of organisations helping those who are homeless across Oxfordshire.
National
- Housing Justice is a national charity that enables churches, shelters, Local Authorities and MPs to effectively help homeless people; formed in 2003 when the Catholic Housing Aid Society (CHAS) and the Churches' National Housing Coalition (CNHC) merged. They also provide resources for faith and community groups.
- Crisis offers education, training and support at their centre in Oxford. Serving individuals who are homeless or at immediate risk of becoming homeless.
- Citizens Advice Bureaus advise on housing issues, as well as many other rights issues; information about renting or buying a home, finding somewhere to live, and advice on problems with landlords, eviction and more.
Consider one of these suggestions, or review the organisations under 'Engage':
- StreetLink – notify local services of people sleeping rough to connect them to each other, and help people who are street homeless.
- Become a Depaul Nightstop volunteer, preventing homelessness through providing short-term emergency hosting for young people.
- Explore using parish church land to build affordable homes as part of the Church of England's Housing Project.
- ACORN – a mass membership organisation, using community organising principles to work for a fairer deal for communities. Anyone can join, and together work for local social justice, often focusing on issues of expensive and poor-quality housing (as well as other issues like fair pay and access to public services).
- Churches across the diocese support people experiencing homelessness in a variety of ways, such as:
- Holy Trinity in Windsor reopened their Parish Rooms as the Alma Beacon, the home of Windsor Christian Action (WCA). WCA brings together three projects which support the local community under one roof; the Windsor Homeless Project, the Windsor Street Angels, and Windsor Foodshare. The Homelessness Project provides a space for people experiencing homelessness to meet, and offers food, advice on benefits and support, and health and wellbeing services.
- Churches across the diocese run winter night shelters across Bracknell, High Wycombe, Milton Keynes, Reading (A Bed For the Night), and Oxford. Local councils only have a statutory responsibility to provide shelter for the unhoused when the temperature drops to 0°C, so winter night shelters ensure noone is left out in the cold during the winter months.
- St Mary Magdalene in Duns Tew collect food and gives financial support to Polly Preedy, a local individual who supports people experiencing homelessness and newly housed people in Banbury. Polly meets with individuals outside St Mary's church, offering friendship, food, and practical support.
Pray
Here's a prayer written by Carol Penner:
Hear our prayer for all women and men, boys and girls
who are homeless this day.
For those sleeping under bridges, on park benches,
in doorways or bus stations.
For those who can only find shelter for the night
but must wander in the daytime.
For families broken because they could not afford to pay the rent.
For those who have no relatives or friends who can take them in.
For those who have no place to keep possessions
that remind them who they are.
or those who are afraid and hopeless.
For those who have been betrayed by our social safety net.
For all these people, we pray
that you will provide shelter, security and hope.
We pray for those of us with warm houses and comfortable beds
that we may not be lulled into complacency and forgetfulness.
Jesus, help us to see your face
in the eyes of every homeless person we meet
so that we may be empowered through word and deed
to bring justice and peace to those who are homeless.
Amen.
Reflect on Isaiah 32:18:
My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.