Faith in Affordable Housing

Legacy and Rescources

Over the past decade, the Faith in Affordable Housing Project has brought together churches, housing providers, and communities to unlock the potential of surplus church land and buildings for the creation of affordable homes. As the Project funding comes to an end in England and Wales, this page celebrates its legacy — not only the refurbished buildings, but the stories of lives changed, communities strengthened, and faith in action.

This page serves as both a reflection on what’s been achieved and a practical resource for churches and faith groups exploring how they might use their land and buildings for community good. Whether you’re at the very beginning of your journey or already taking steps toward a housing or community development project, you’ll find guidance, inspiration, and tools to support you.

Our Impact

FIAH IN WALES

Examples of FiAH in Action

Pentyrch St, Cardiff

6 New Homes | Denomination: Baptist | In partnership with Cadwyn

“Land for housing is scarce within the city, yet with approximately 8,000 people on the Common Housing waiting list in Cardiff, it’s vital we continue to build new homes to help meet the demand. By working together with the church in this way we are able to make a difference.” – Chief Executive of Cadwyn Housing Association Kath Palmer

St Mathew’s Maindee, Newport

14 New Homes | Denomination: Church in Wales | In partnership with Pobl

“There can come a time, a sad time, when a place of worship that has been much loved over the years, comes to the end of its viable life. It becomes a liability rather than being an asset. The least attractive option for that building is that it closes and becomes a ruin – a poor advertisement for any community. There are, however, occasions when a building (or the land upon which it sits) can be re-ordered and adapted for community or residential use. For St Matthew’s, that was the way forward, and I’m delighted to be able to commend those who took difficult decisions for their courage and vision to engage in such a fruitful project.” -Archbishop of Wales, The Most Reverend John Davies

St Mathew’s Maindee, Newport

7 New Homes | Denomination: Church in Wales | In partnership with Pobl

“I am delighted that although this building has closed as a church, it continues to serve the community by providing much-needed shelter and housing. We should never underestimate the importance of having good-quality affordable housing available for local people. . . It is inspiring to see the project come to fruition and for these new homes to be occupied.” -Bishop Cherry Vann

Case Studies

Completed Sites by Housing Justice Cymru

Explore our full list of sites in Wales here

Influencing and Campaigning

Why Churches Are Uniquely Placed to Make a Difference

Churches have a unique opportunity to be part of the solution to the housing crisis, living out their Christian call to offer shelter, protect the vulnerable, and help communities flourish. Many have underused land or buildings that can be transformed into affordable homes, or can act as trusted advocates for those without a voice.

Below is an overview of our campaigning and influencing work, which highlight how churches and faith groups cam address the root causes of homelessness and create new homes: