Archbishops’ Council Housing Project
The Archbishops’ Council has launched a new national initiative to support dioceses and parishes in addressing the housing crisis, inspired by the Coming Home Report. The Report stresses the importance of affordable, sustainable, and safe housing, and underscores the Church of England's role in tackling housing issues by utilising its resources to build stronger communities and promote social justice.
Located in the Faith and Public Life department, the Housing Project team is dedicated to helping dioceses and parishes transform their church property or land into homes that meet community needs.
The Archbishops’ Council has allocated £4.25 million over five years to accomplish these aims. Specifically, the project will support churches in the following ways:
Providing expert advice on taking forward a housing project, and access to expertise not readily available in-house.
Creating opportunities for parishes to learn from one another and share ideas, experience, and resources.
Offering a small grants scheme to help overcome initial barriers, such as viability surveys and feasibility studies.
Offering a GIS mapping tool to help dioceses identify potential housing development opportunities.
This housing initiative is a simple response to a biblical mandate to God’s people towards justice: where a true fast involves bringing the homeless poor into our house (Isaiah 58:7), and where serving Christ demands that we welcome the stranger (Matthew 25:35).
Church leaders and PCC members interested in exploring housing opportunities or sharing their experiences can reach out to Beki Winter at HousingProject@churchofengland.org.
Archbishops’ Council Housing Project News
