Question

To ask the Member for South West Bedfordshire, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent progress the Church has made on its initiatives to combat (a) homelessness and (b) poverty.

The Bishop of Chelmsford, who is the Lead Bishop for Housing, has warmly welcomed the ’Homewards’ initiative of the Prince of Wales. The Church works extensively at a local level to tackle homelessness, often in partnership with charities and volunteers.

The report of the Archbishops' Housing Commission, ‘Coming Home’, made many recommendations to church and Government and highlighted the work undertaken by the church to provide and develop truly affordable housing in local communities. It can be seen here: https://www.churchofengland.org/about/archbishops-commissions/housing-church-and-community/about-coming-home

77% of churches responding to a 2019 survey reported involvement in one or more forms of social action, with 35,000 social action projects being either directly run, hosted, or supported in other ways. A 2020 report from the National Churches Trust found that church buildings create £12.4 billion economic and social value every year, of which £10 billion is ‘non-market (social and wellbeing) value’.

Churches in city centres often open in the evening to be night shelters, particularly in the winter, and several Anglican cathedrals run dedicated projects. More information about one of these, the Archer project in Sheffield, can be found here: https://www.archerproject.org.uk/ Based in Sheffield Cathedral it provides a kitchen, medical room and educational and activity space. The project is also a multi-agency hub with GP, nursing and dentistry surgeries, outreach from rough sleeper teams, drug and alcohol outreach teams, hosting for mental health appointments, probation services, accommodation services and 1:1 team working with people with complex needs. In 2021 the project engaged with over 1,000 individuals a year, around 70-80 per day.