New deputy bishop for housing attends summit at No. 10

Bishop Eleanor attended the summit with Bishop Rob Wickham, Director of CUF.

The Bishop of Hull, Rt Revd Dr Eleanor Sanderson, has just been appointed to the role of deputy lead bishop for housing, supporting Bishop Guli. One key focus of her role is homelessness, and her first assignment was to attend a summit on rough sleeping at 10 Downing Street on 26th October, along with leaders from business, social enterprises, finance, local government, faith communities and the charity sector.

Bishop Eleanor was able to listen to key leaders and share some of the ways the Church is responding to Andy Burnham’s call to faith communities to help reduce rough sleeping.

“It was a great joy to spend the day in Downing Street with so many people who are passionate about ending rough sleeping in our country and committed to long term sustainable change,” she said.

“Breaking the cycle of homelessness will require ambition, determination and creative thinking from across society.

“These were the commitments that came together in this summit and were undergirded by a ‘names not numbers’ approach; real relationships, real people and trying to work together for real solutions. 

“I am humbled and inspired by the vital contribution that churches make to this effort. Rooted in a biblical mandate for justice, churches host drop-in spaces, run night shelters, provide supportive accommodation and find creative ways to use their buildings and surplus land for affordable housing.

“This ministry fosters hope, dignity and a sense of belonging for everyone in our communities.”

Figures from the Church of England's 2022 Statistics for Mission show 1,354 churches in the Church of England either run, support or host winter night shelters - around 10 per cent of all Church of England churches.

Several churches supported by the Archbishops’ Council Housing Project are seeking to create new homes for people at risk of homelessness.