April 2008
Welcome to Housing Justice UNLEASH e-news for April. This month's main story is about the changes at Housing Justice, but first a brief follow up note concerning the tragic death of Krzysztof Marszalek, as reported in the March e-news.
Staff from the Passage Day Centre have asked me to say that they were working to support this young Polish man in a number of ways. They continue to offer their services in response to need, and lack of benefit status does not exclude people from this help. In the e-news piece I wanted to draw attention to the fact that many agencies are prevented from helping people in this situation, even when they are homeless and, like Krzysztof, obviously at risk. This is the case with hostels and many homelessness agencies but not the Passage Day Centre and I am happy to make this clear.
This story highlights the difference between agencies whose main or only funding is from central government and local authorities, now required to operate to stricter constraints, and those which maintain their independence through having several sources of funding, including individual donors and supporters. This is a bigger issue than there is space for here but if you are interested have a look at the recently formed National Coalition for Independent Action
Scroll down for -
NEWS
· Changes at Housing Justice
· Pilgrimage to Canterbury
EVENTS
· Linking Up On Homelessness
· SOLIDARNI Party
· Mayoral Assembly
· Pentecost Festival
TRAINING
· Introduction to Homelessness Workshop
RESOURCES
· Poverty and Justice Bible
· Recommended web resources
· Join Housing Justice
About Housing Justice UNLEASH e-news
This monthly e-news bulletin aims to be a quick but worthwhile read for people working in or concerned about housing and homelessness, with a particular focus on London. Many readers are from churches and other faith groups; some work in housing or homelessness agencies; some are or have been homeless; all have an interest in housing, homelessness and related issues, and some are "all of the above".
It goes out each month to over 1250 people and Housing Justice members may use it to share news or advertise needs. Comments or feedback are always welcome.
Subscribe/unsubscribe Please forward to colleagues or friends who may be interested. If you receive a copy in this way and would like your own please email me - also to unsubscribe anytime of course.
a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk
Privacy/data protection I will not share your email or personal details with other people or organisations without your permission, and this email is sent blind copy to reduce the risk of spam and viruses.
NEWS
Changes at Housing Justice
Major changes are in process at Housing Justice, as trailed in the March e-news. We are undertaking a restructuring which means that some staff are being made redundant and some new roles are being created.
The new Housing Justice will be a smaller organisation but there will be a stronger focus on the support to churches and the network of smaller homelessness projects. Additionally this support will be made available outside London for the first time. I am taking up the newly created post of Regions Coordinator, and we are going to recruit someone to take on the role of London Coordinator. Also the UNLEASH name is going to disappear, although the work of UNLEASH continues of course within the mission of Housing Justice.
If you are interested in the London role please see our website for details, which will be posted very soon. There are other jobs within the new organisation, and all vacancies will be advertised on the website and in the Guardian next week.
Another change is that Housing Justice Digest is being discontinued. There are several free web and email resources carrying similar information now available, such as thirdsector e-bulletin, epolitix and others (see resources section, below). There will also be a new national HJ e-news bulletin, similar to this one in content but with a national focus. If you want to receive that bulletin instead of (or in addition to) this one please let me know.
The next edition of this bulletin will come to you without UNLEASH in the title. It may also arrive in your inbox from a different e-bulletin source, so you may need to rescue it from your spam folder if you still want to receive it!
Pilgrimage to Canterbury
The St. Martin in the Fields Annual Pilgrimage to Canterbury takes place on the May Bank Holiday weekend of 23/5/2008 - 26/5/2008. I took part in 2007 for the first time and can highly recommend the experience. It is 74 miles walking over 4 days, but with plenty of stimulating company and conversation as well as wonderful volunteer support, especially for tired feet!
For more information or to sign up please see the Pilgrimage website
Funds raised are used to support the work of the Connection @St Martins and others. If you would like to sponsor me for this year's Pilgrimage please see My justgiving page
EVENTS
Linking Up On Homelessness
Are you concerned about homelessness In Westminster? Do you or does your church want to help people who are homeless or excluded e.g. rough sleepers or street drinkers in your neighbourhood?
Churches Together in Westminster Homelessness Task Group and Housing Justice invite you to a workshop to find out
• What help there is for people who are homeless
• Church and Government responses to homelessness in Westminster
Come and link up, share your experience and help build the network
Saturday 19 April 2007
10am – 1.00pm. Coffee from 9.30am
Lunch and refreshments provided (suggested donation £3)
Central Hall Westminster, Storey's Gate London SW1H 9NH
Details from Christoph Warrack T 020 7580 3273 E xmw@mac.com
Poster attached to print out and display.
SOLIDARNI Party
A fundraising party with proceeds to the Barka Foundation in London to help Polish migrants Barka UK website
Saturday 12 April starting at 8 pm
The Rex Cinema & Bar
21 Rupert Street, London W1V 7FE
Poster attached with more details
Mayoral Assembly
There are a number of hustings events with opportunities to put your questions and viewpoints to the London Mayoral candidates.
The biggest will be the London Citizens Mayoral Assembly on Wednesday 9 April at Westminster Methodist Central Hall. It is a ticketed event for London Citizens member organisations only, but Housing Justice has used its membership to gather and contribute the views of people who are homeless and badly housed to the London Citizens Listening Campaign. This formed the basis for the four points which the candidates will be invited to support at the assembly, for a safer, fairer, better housed and more welcoming city.
Pentecost Festival
Over the weekend of 9/05 to 11/05 there will be hundreds of events happening across central London as part of this Festival. There are activities for people of all ages, including special services, concerts and arts events and seminars. Housing Justice is joining with London City Mission to present a workshop on Saturday 10th May at Webber Street Centre.
For details of this and other events see the Pentecost festival website
TRAINING
Introduction to Homelessness Workshop
One day workshop on homelessness and related issues, particularly relevant to volunteers in homelessness agencies, churches and faith groups, concerned citizens and people new to working in the field.
Workshop contents: Role of the state and voluntary sector; homelessness law and local authority tests; mental health awareness; drugs and alcohol awareness; and dealing with conflict.
Cost: £25 per person for Housing Justice member organisations.
Membership of Housing Justice entitles your organisation to 2 free places.
A note about the cost: This workshop was previously offered free to members, but the changes at Housing Justice mean we now have to raise more income from our activities. However, we do not want anyone who volunteers with a church or smaller homelessness project to be prevented from accessing this training because of the cost, so some bursaries are available for low/unwaged volunteers or people applying from churches or small organizations without funds for a training budget.
Please contact me if cost is an issue a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk
Dates: 26 April and 7 June (both Saturdays)
Times: 10.00am to 4.00pm
More details here from Housing Justice training
RESOURCES
Poverty and Justice Bible A new edition which uses the Contemporary English Version (CEV) text, it highlights more than 2,000 verses that spell out God's attitude to poverty and justice. Also includes in-depth studies and practical suggestions on what we can do to tackle poverty and injustice in our world today.
Recommended web resources
National Coalition for Independent Action Doing what it says! A coalition of activists and organisations supporting the growing resistance to commissioning and other threats to the independence of the voluntary sector.
Ekklesia The award winning think-tank "promoting transformative theological ideas in public life." Sign up for a daily and or weekly email bulletin.
epolitix An informative and comprehensive website for parliamentary business and the policy agenda. Daily or weekly e-bulletins
thirdsector e-bulletin Lots of voluntary sector info with a focus on funding and news in the sector.
On Facebook or Myspace? Feel free to send me a friend link. The Myspace page is mainly about my other, musical life.
Join Housing Justice
If this e-news whets your appetite why not join Housing Justice? More details below or you can also Donate on-line
best wishes,
Alastair
Alastair Murray
(Still) UNLEASH - London Coordinator
Housing Justice
209 Old Marylebone Road
London NW1 5QT
office 020 7723 7273 x.242
mobile 078 7581 0216
Charity No 294666 Company No 2017207
Housing Justice mobilises the resources of Christians, the churches and others to reduce and ultimately eliminate homelessness and bad housing. It works both through direct services of independent housing advice, resident-led regeneration, and church linked homelessness projects, and through awareness-raising and campaigning programmes to influence policy-makers.
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Join Housing Justice!
You may join Housing Justice as an Individual Member or as a Member Organisation and
· Support the work of Housing Justice – helping to prevent homelessness and bad housing
· Receive regular Housing Justice and UNLEASH Newsletters
· Receive invitations to events, workshops and conferences
· Contribute to Housing Justice campaigns and connect with our other nationwide projects: Housing Justice Regenerate, Homelessness Sunday/Poverty and Homelessness Action Week and Housing Justice CHAS (independent housing advice) network
Member Organisations also benefit from
· Connecting with the network of churches, projects and individuals involved in action on homelessness and poor housing.
· 2 free places on our Homelessness Training Workshop (London only at present, but soon available nationwide)
· Special reduced rate membership of Homeless Link
· Advice and Support to you in your work e.g. Business Planning, Fundraising
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