Forum for Church Housing
Accelerating Change for Homes and Communities
Several different entities under the Church of England umbrella are working to respond to the housing crisis, informed by Coming Home, by delivering affordable homes, primarily on Church land. These include older ones like the Church Commissioners and some dioceses, as well as newer initiatives launched in the wake of the Coming Home report, such as the Archbishops’ Council Housing Project or the Church Housing Association.
The Forum for Church Housing was created in November 2024 to foster collaboration between all these different parties and enable a whole Church approach to housing. It is convened by the lead bishop for housing and meets quarterly. Diocesan and parish representatives are invited to contact any of the organisations listed. The Forum aims to promote a unified and effective approach to housing and community, following the spirit of Coming Home and its recommendations to provide housing that is safe, stable, sociable, sustainable and satisfying.
Who’s involved?
The Forum includes the following organisations and initiatives:
The Church Commissioners
The Church Commissioners supports the Church of England’s ministry, particularly in areas of need and opportunity.
They do this through responsible and ethical management of the Church of England’s permanent endowment fund, a diverse investment portfolio which enables them to provide financial support for the Church that is intentionally used for mission and growth.
Their land assets include several thousand acres of strategic development land, with the potential to deliver 32,000 homes over the next 20 years - at least 9,000 of which will be affordable.
Find out more about The Church Commissioners on their website
The Office of the Bishop for Housing
The lead bishop for housing is the bishop of Chelmsford, Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, She spearheads the Church’s response to Britain’s housing crisis, informed by the Coming Home report. She contributes to the national policy debate through her membership of the House of Lords, speaking with Government ministers and other national housing sector stakeholders. An important theme is advocating for a long-term national housing strategy, beginning with a vision for good housing, and backed by a statutory housing committee. The Bishop is supported by a small team.
For more information on this work contact Jonathan Tame
The Faith and Public Life Housing Project
In 2024 the Archbishops' Council set up a housing project within their Faith and Public Life department. The team will support dioceses and parishes in identifying opportunities for housing projects, and make small grants available for feasibility and viability studies. For more information contact the project director Beki Winter.
Church Development Agency
The Church Development Agency has been set up to develop affordable housing in challenging areas of high need and will deliver new affordable homes for rent for local families. It has already begun work on several projects across Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, all of which will deliver new affordable homes for rent for local families. The CDA brings specific professional expertise in housing development that will enable Church of England organisations to work together to deliver new affordable housing in their communities.
For more info, contact Dan Mayes
Church Housing Association
The Church Housing Association was set up in 2022 and the Regulator for Social Housing approved it as a Registered Provider in early 2025. CHA will own and manage quality affordable housing for social rent, on land owned, leased or acquired by the Church. The initial housing held will be in Gloucester and Birmingham. For more info, contact Aileen Evans
General Synod Homeless Task Force
Andrew Gray is the General Synod lead on the issue of Homelessness. He set up the Homeless Task Force, which is focusing on the long term prevention of homelessness by providing much more social housing. Andrew brings his professional network and financial expertise to the Forum, helping parishes and dioceses with projects that deliver affordable housing.
Church Housing Foundation
The Church Housing Foundation is a charity formed to support Church organisations working for housing and community. We aim to connect with those who share our ambition to provide more high quality and truly affordable housing, supporting stronger communities. Currently we provide communications support to the Forum for Church Housing.
More info is available here