Your response to local housing need

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England’s Homelessness Day Services Research Report – July 2026 Day Services Research – Launch Webinar Slides    

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This video offers a Christian perspective on housing, based on the Bible story and focused around five core values, that housing should be sustainable, safe, stable, sociable and satisfying.

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This video looks at what a Biblical understanding of housing means for individual Christians and how we can put this into action in our everyday lives.

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This video looks at how a Christian vision of good housing and community can be embedded in the mission and ministry of local churches.

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This video looks at how a Christian understanding of housing can shape and influence the nation’s response to the housing crisis.

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Prepared by the Centre for Theology and Community, this bible study course is designed to help church groups to reflect and engage with local housing issues from a Christian perspective.

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Written by Bishop Graham Tomlin and Dr Stephen Backhouse, this booklet explores five core values that underpin a Christian theology of housing, based around five key moments in the Bible story.

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LivShare Consulting, who are experienced in providing specialist housing advice to churches, have produced a starter’s guide to housing schemes for us, based on their expertise. While they cover all forms of housing schemes, they particularly highlight innovative and unusual schemes to provide a potential solution to any context.

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An explanation of the background and aims of these resources, and how you can best put them to use.

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The New Housing Hub, a Network for Christians of all traditions who have a vision for engaging with new housing communities, have drawn up a set of how-to guides talking you through engagement in new housing developments for us.

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In our eagerness to work out what to do on new estates, it can be easy to overlook the why. This section explores what it means to be Christlike as an organising principle underpinning our missional engagement.

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Unconditional blessing embodies the nature of God in our new communities. This guide explores how unconditional blessing takes place through the stakeholder and structures at a macro-level, and through relationships and community engagement at a micro-level.

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Jesus modelled the laying down of self and the posture of a servant and calls his disciples to do the same. This guide explores what this looks like for Christians who are engaging in new housing areas.

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This guide looks at the importance for Christian pioneers of being a friend, rather than a professional, and how to go about this in a way that is sensitive to the local context.

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This guide is about starting a public gathering on the new estate, waiting for God’s leading through the community to birth something that is inspired by the Holy Spirit and contextually relevant.

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The call to serve on a new estate is a call to be Christlike, humbly and unconditionally loving and serving local residents and stakeholders. The call is to be with the community not to do to them.

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Christian mission is ‘finding out what the Holy Spirit is doing and joining in’. This guide is about working out how to apply this theology practically to ministry on a new estate.

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This section deals with a variety of practical issues, unpacking general principles and offering examples, rather than simply providing a blueprint to follow.

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Many people express a desire to minister on a new estate, but are held back by the fear of doing it badly. This guide encourages you to step out in faith, with ideas about how to get started.

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This guide gives lots of practical advice on welcome packs as a way of modelling God’s love and providing a gateway to new friendships.

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No single denomination or organisation is able to engage with every new home or estate. This section looks at how to work together across traditional boundaries within and outside the Church.

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If you have a vision for new housing in your area, this guide will help in connecting with other churches to develop a county/town/village-wide strategy.

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This guide explores three different ecumenical approaches for reaching large areas of new housing in partnership with other churches or denominations.

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Calling a new worker to a new estate can be transformative. This guide looks at how to make this work in harmony with an existing minister and church community.

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Work out what approach to supported accommodation is right for you, and read a few quick tips.

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For a church to provide affordable housing, sometimes the current church building has to be replaced or at least remodelled. Lots of churches have been through this before, and their successes and learning can help you. They gave us their top tips.

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This guide gives advice on how to build close relationships with councils, developers and other stakeholders, which is key to serving a new community effectively.

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The principle of testing, examining, and discerning is a good one. This section explores various models of project planning and evaluation that can helpfully inform your practice.

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This guide discusses the importance of establishing a clear and shared understanding of the expectations and outcomes of any new housing engagement.

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Gathering the right people who have a calling, heart and vision is key to making a real difference in new housing. This guide looks at how to bring together people to make an impact.

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A Christlike perspective should underpin the evaluation of all new housing projects. This, the first of two guides, addresses the spiritual considerations relating to evaluation.

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A Christlike perspective should underpin the evaluation of all new housing projects. This, the second of two guides, addresses the practical considerations relating to evaluation.

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Every new housing context is different. This section looks at how the same underlying Christlike principles can be embodied in different contexts.

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This guide considers some of the particular challenges involved in ministering to new housing developments in dense urban areas, using creative ways to connect with the community.

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There are many advantages to living on the estate that you are called to serve. This guide addresses how to serve the community in authentic and helpful ways if you don’t live there.

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Find out more about Alison Boulton, the lead author, and the many other ministers who have shared their knowledge and experience in these guides, including the different contexts in which they serve.

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Community land trusts, housing co-operatives, cohousing communities and other community led approaches can also be a good way to provide affordable housing.

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The New Housing Hub are a network for Christians of all traditions who have a vision for engaging with new housing communities. We found out about two contexts in which they work.

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Consultation processes get polarised. At their best, churches can offer something different. Churches should speaking into the issues affecting their communities to stand up for the common good and prioritise the vulnerable.

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If you believe that there are structural issues which you can’t address alone in your area, then campaigning is a way to change that.

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After noticing housing problems affecting their congregations, St Barnabas and Christ the Saviour started a campaign about affordable housing. When local elections came, they put together a series of asks, held an assembly and got all the candidates for leader of the council to agree to them.

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Faced with plans for large scale regeneration across two housing estates, about a decade ago residents of Church Street ward set up a neighbourhood forum to address and consult on the proposals. From the beginning, members of St Paul’s church were heavily involved.

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Hope North London have been working to build community and empower individuals on three estates in North London. Their aim is ‘to get the residents to grasp a vision of what community should look like’, whether that’s over some new benches or service charges.

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Shieldfield Art Works (SAW) combines faith, art and community activism. Part church, part art gallery, part community space, SAW’s work builds community, showcases their area – Shieldfield in Newcastle – and stimulates the voice of residents on the issues affecting them.

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Over the last two and a half years St George-in-the-East church in Shadwell, East London, has facilitated and won a campaign for affordable Community Land Trust homes on a piece of land opposite their church.

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Blackburn Cathedral is exploring the possibility of converting the old Diocesan office building into safe, decent and affordable accommodation for people who have recently obtained ‘leave to remain’ in the UK, many of whom are part of their worshipping community. Find out more about their plans.

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Ilford Salvation Army run Malachi Place: 42 self-contained homes for those at risk of homelessness. The land used will be redeveloped in 10 years, so they needed something which could be built and dismantled quickly.

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One Roof Leicester is a charity which provides supported accommodation for people who are homeless, destitute refugees or refused asylum seekers. Salma Ravat developed her vision with a group including the Reverend Helen Hayes. They work with faith groups to see the best way they can get involved.

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Pye Green Christian Centre house eight men at risk of homelessness, providing them support to help them get back on their feet and move into permanent accommodation in about twelve months. They do this in collaboration with Green Pastures

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Advice and advocacy can be crucial in our housing system, which can be complex, confusing and disempowering. Revd Dr Catherine Shelley, who set up an advice service at St Ed’s, Mottingham, gives advice to others.

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Lighthouse is a fresh expression of church specifically tailored to those who ‘are battered and bruised by the storms of life’. Many of their community have experienced homelessness, addiction issues, criminal backgrounds, poverty and mental health problems.

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The complexity of our housing system means that legal understanding can be useful just to keep a roof over people’s heads.

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After a listening campaign revealed that housing was a big issue for their parishioners, St Stephen’s started a group, ‘Building Community’, which included both those in housing need and local professionals, who work to support and seek justice for local people regarding housing.

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Rent deposits are one of the biggest barriers to housing. That’s why churches in Southampton provided deposits to those at risk of homelessness. They generally get the money back unscathed, but providing it in the first place is incredibly valuable.

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St George’s have made strong connections with the local homelessness team, Citizens Advice and the police. By building relationships with people who come to their community café and their informal daily drop-in, they are able to journey with them and work with other agencies to get them the support they need. They also provide supported accommodation with the charity Hope into Action.

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When Ambleside Methodist Church saw two problems faced by their community – the need for a new flexible community space and affordable housing – they took the brave decision to help St Mary’s Anglican Church to build a new community centre by selling their own building to a housing association. They now have no building of their own, but use the new flexible Parish Centre to worship. Their old building provides fourteen spectacular social homes.

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Anniesland Methodist Church had a small, ageing congregation, and maintaining a large building led them to consider closing. Talking with the housing association Sanctuary, they realised that they could provide social rented housing on their plot while getting a more manageable building themselves.

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Right next to Hope Community Church is a space that has potential to provide a home perfect for the church’s caretaker – a valued member of the church community who they have been supporting since he left prison. Find out more about their plans.

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In East London, two exciting projects are in early stages. Whilst the Innovation Fund Project in Chelmsford diocese is far from complete, it is an inspiring story of what is possible when churches are supported by local authorities to release surplus land for affordable housing at the same time as redeveloping their own facilities. The story of St John’s Church, Hoxton reveals some of the barriers facing churches wishing to develop their land assets for affordable housing.

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The Diocese of Gloucester is developing a small number of 100% affordable housing developments on ex-benefice land. It also has a commitment to deliver the 40% on-site affordable allocation on glebe land.

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After realising the desperate need for affordable housing in their area, members of Churches Together in Keswick put together a working group to think about the best response. None of them had experience in the property industry. They’ve now built four developments of genuinely affordable homes which are helping people stay in their area as house prices and rents soar.

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St Bride’s Trafford partnered with a local housing association on a win-win project to re-develop its church building as part of a brand new community centre.

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An overview of why churches are called to respond to housing need, why they’re well placed to deal with the issues and what the advantages are for the church.

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Homelessness should remain a focus for churches – we’re called to do it and our passion and ability in this area are widely recognised. This is now an ideal time to reassess how we respond to homelessness.

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There are all sorts of different ways for churches to meet housing need. This resource will help you consider what’s most suitable for your church.

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The housing crisis is a massive problem. It can feel far too big to make a difference as an individual. We explain what options you have if your church isn’t able to take part.

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Is your church not ready to start a completely new project? Fear not, there are many options for you to play a small part in pre-existing work, or commit to just a one-off piece of action. This resource brings them together to make it easier for you to consider your options.

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Dr Stephen Backhouse explores the theology of the call to be brave.

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Funding is crucial to many – but certainly not all – church-linked schemes to meet housing need. There are all sorts of places that churches often look for funding, but this sheet specifically highlights some of those which successful schemes have used that may not initially jump to mind.

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There are very few projects which can be done without the buy-in of other organisations. This resource highlights our interviewees’ top tips for successful relationships.

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Churches could be a great partner, but they don’t usually jump to mind for many organisations. Here’s an explanation of why and how to build relationships and partnerships with churches.

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St Barnabas, Wigan help people facing eviction by assisting with reading and writing letters, making phone calls and accompanying people to court cases and hearings. Many of those they help come to them through the church’s daily drop-in.