Phase 1: from 2021 – 2023

Alongside the publication of Coming Home, the Archbishops followed the recommendation of the Commission and appointed a lead Bishop for Housing (the bishop of Chelmsford, Guli Francis-Dehqani - pictured), together with a housing advisory board and a small, part time executive team. The latter explored how to implement the various recommendations of the Coming Home report through extensive discussions with dioceses and parishes, housing associations, developers and other key players in the housing sector.

In July 2021, the General Synod (the governing body of the Church of England) passed a motion stating that ‘…responding to housing need is an integral part of the mission and ministry of the Church of England, particularly in so far as it affects the poorest and most marginalised.’

Watch the debate which preceded the vote on this motion.

Prior to that, the crisis of homelessness prompted the General Synod to authorise the formation of a Homeless Task Force (HTF). The HTF undertook a survey of church responses to people who are homeless as well as consulting with leading homeless charities in the sector. The overwhelming conclusion was that local churches were already well represented in responding to rough sleeping, and that the Church should take action to prevent homelessness by alleviating the critical shortage of affordable/social rent housing. With this focus in mind, the HTF has drawn in financial and legal expertise from the private sector to help deliver homes for the poorest in line with values and objectives of the Coming Home report.

In 2022, the executive team set up the Church Housing Foundation to start mobilising a movement of people across the Church and housing sector who want to bring their skills and resources into the mission of providing decent, affordable homes on Church land and property.  They hosted a national conference in November 2022 in Church House, attended by over 130 people from dioceses and parishes, housing associations, developers, the Church Commissioners and the civil service.

They also created a Church Housing Association and a Church Development Agency, to lower the risk to parishes and dioceses of providing housing on their land and property by bringing it ‘in house’.  This will also ensure that all the homes they build and communities they foster will be aligned with the vision and five core values of Coming Home.

The Church Commissioners created a new role of Affordable Housing Asset Manager, and have prioritised identifying rural exception sites which deliver affordable housing to local people in rural areas. They are actively taking forward 21 sites which will potentially provide 365 homes.

Phase 2: from 2024 onwards

Up to this point, the work to take forward the recommendations of Coming Home was largely funded by the diocese of Gloucester, whose successful experience of delivering both market and affordable housing was one of the inspirations for the Commission.  The Archbishops Council then allocated £4.5m to a five year housing project, which will provide professional advice and small grants to parishes and dioceses wishing to explore the possibility of meeting housing need by (re)developing some of their land or property.

The Church Housing Association was approved by the regulator of social housing and can start working in earnest to deliver social homes. They are working closely with the Church Development Agency, with an initial focus on the greater West Midlands area. The CDA has received a substantial grant from the Oak Foundation for its work in Birmingham.

The Bishop for Housing then convened a Forum for Church Housing in 2024, to ensure these new initiatives, together with the Church Commissioners and active dioceses, work collaboratively and in line with Coming home as they provide housing and build community.

For news and developments on these projects and others, where the Church is stepping up its response to the housing crisis, please go to the dedicated housing website at www.churchhousing.net