Forum for Church Housing
Accelerating Change for Homes and Communities
Several projects and groups are working to provide the Church's response to the housing crisis, informed by Coming Home.
The Forum for Church Housing was formed in November 2024 to enable collaboration between all parties. It is convened and chaired by Bishop for Housing, Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani, and meets quarterly, bringing together leaders of Church Institutions, housing experts, and partner organisations. The member organisations of the Forum aim to assist and enable the whole church in its approach to the housing crisis. Diocesan and parish representatives are warmly welcomed 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 for housing which is safe, stable, sociable, sustainable and satisfying.
Who’s involved?
The Forum includes the following organisations and other experts in housing and homelessness.
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, by helping to ensure funding is intentionally used for mission and growth.
Find out more about The Church Commissioners on their website
The Office for the Bishop for Housing
The Bishop for Housing, Guli Francis-Dehqani, spearheads the Church’s efforts to help ease the UK’s crippling housing crisis, taking forward all the recommendations of Coming Home. Her work lies in the public sphere; in the House of Lords, speaking with Government ministers and other national institutions such as the National Housing Federation. 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 in the public domain, contact Jonathan Tame
The Faith and Public Life Team
In December 2023 the Archbishops' Council funded a new housing project, within the Church’s Faith and Public Life department. This team will support dioceses and parishes in identifying and mapping future opportunities for housing programmes. For more information contact the newly-appointed project leader Beki Winter. For more info contact 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 is in the final stages of approval by the Regulator. It 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 David Thorpe
General Synod lead on Homelessness
Andrew Gray is the General Synod lead on the issue of Homelessness. He has joined the Forum and will bring his connections and financial expertise, wherever it is helpful to the provision of affordable and social 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 relating to Church work on housing.
More info is available here