May 2008
Welcome to the May issue of Housing Justice e-news, formerly HJ UNLEASH e-news.
"Money has become the grand test of virtue. By this test beggars fail and for this they are despised. If one could earn even ten pounds a week at begging, it would become a respectable profession immediately. A beggar, looked at realistically, is simply a business man, getting his living, like other business men, in the way that comes to hand. He has not, more than most modern people, sold his honour; he has merely made the mistake of choosing a trade at which it is impossible to grow rich."
George Orwell Down and Out in Paris & London
Scroll down for -
NEWS
· Poverty and Homelessness Action Week report
· Pilgrimage to Canterbury - please sponsor me!
· Churches in Reading Drop In Centre
· Missing: John Brady
EVENTS
· Pentecost Festival
· Informal evening at Westminster Abbey for people working in homelessness
· Soup Run Forum
· Winter Shelters Forum
TRAINING
· Introduction to Homelessness Workshop
· What's God got to do with it?
RESOURCES
· Recommended web resources
· Join Housing Justice
About this Housing Justice 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. 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. 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
· Poverty and Homelessness Action Week report
This year Housing Justice joined with Church Action on Poverty and Scottish Churches Housing Action to strengthen the impact of Homelessness Sunday.
Between 27 January and 3 February, our supporters jointly put on over 120 local events, from full-scale poverty and homelessness hearings down to simple church services and group meetings. Every event communicated the reality of poverty and homelessness today, changing people's assumptions and challenging them to act. We would like to thank everyone who organised events, spoke at hearings, or just attended a local event.
To download a report with some of the main events and a timetable of actions going forward please see our website
· Pilgrimage to Canterbury – please sponsor me!
The St. Martins in the Fields Annual Pilgrimage to Canterbury is coming up over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. I took part last year for the first time and would highly recommend the experience. The walk is 74 miles over 4 days, with plenty of excellent company and conversation as well as wonderful volunteer support, especially for tired feet!
Whatever I manage to raise in sponsorship will help support the work of the Connection @St Martins and Housing Justice.
If you would like to sponsor me please see>> My justgiving page
· Churches in Reading Drop In Centre
Eric Moyse asks: Churches in Reading Drop In Centre (CIRDIC) is a local and entirely independent charity that runs a day centre providing meals and other services for the homeless and other adults in need. Apart from the part-time professional manager, it is directed by Trustees all of whom work for the organisation and staffed by about 70 volunteers several of whom first came to the Centre as guests in need of help.
Our work would greatly benefit from exchanging ideas with organisations in the UK that undertake similar work and are similarly structured. We are looking for ideas to further improve our services, help with legal compliance, dealing with local authority and fundraising.
If your organisation is interested in co-operating in this way please contact Eric Moyse on 0118 975 1216 or email eric.moyse@ntlworld.com
If people are interested in meeting together about this – either in London or somewhere else - I would be glad to help a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk
· Missing: John Brady
Colleagues at North London Action for the Homeless are worried about John who has uncharacteristically not been seen since January. He is well known in the Stoke Newington area.
Further info including a picture can be found in a recent article in Hackney Gazette
EVENTS
· Pentecost Festival
Over this coming Pentecost weekend of 9/05 to 11/05 there are hundreds of events happening in London as part of this Festival: 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 called "Christian Action on Homelessness" this Saturday 10 May from 1.00-3.00 at the Webber Street Centre in Waterloo.
On Sunday there is a global day of prayer, including a huge prayer meeting at Millwall Football Stadium.
For details of these and all the other events see>> Pentecost festival website
· Informal evening at Westminster Abbey for people working in homelessness
Westminster Abbey has occasional informal evenings for those, from agencies all over London, who work for and with the homeless.
There is one coming up on Monday 12 May and the format is that people are welcome to visit the Abbey, which is closed to the public, from 6.00pm. Then everyone gathers in the Jerusalem Chamber for supper and discussion. I will be giving a short talk on "The tension between Compassion and Wisdom"
These evenings are usually very popular, but there may still be places.
Please contact Pamela Carrington, the Rector's Secretary, on 020 7654 4847 or pamela.carrington@westminster-abbey.org
· Soup Run Forum
The Forum is open to anyone who is involved in or has an interest in soup runs.
Next meeting: Tuesday 3 June at 6.30pm
Tea and Coffee from 6.00pm
NB new venue: Housing Justice/Our Lady of the Rosary
209, Old Marylebone Road London NW1 5QT
Nearest tube: Edgware Rd
Email me for agenda/minutes a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk
Or download from the on-line Soup Run Forum
· Winter Shelters Forum
This forum is open to all involved in providing winter shelter or interested in meeting with those who do. The forum aims to share information, concerns and good practice.
Next meeting: Monday 9 June 2.00 – 3.30pm
Venue: Housing Justice
209, Old Marylebone Road London NW1 5QT
Email for agenda/minutes a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk
TRAINING
· Introduction to Homelessness Workshop
This popular Housing Justice one day workshop covers homelessness and related issues. The emphasis is on practical learning so the day is particularly useful for volunteers in homelessness agencies, churches and faith groups, concerned citizens and anyone 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 changes at Housing Justice mean we 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 organisations without funds for a training budget. Please contact me if cost is an issue a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk
Date: Saturday 7 June
Times: 10.00am to 4.00pm
More details from>> Housing Justice training
· What's God got to do with it?
Down to earth theology for the front line
The very word 'theology' is a turn-off for many activists. Too often, theology seems abstract and disconnected from the reality of day to day community work. Often a gap emerges between the activists and the reflectors to the detriment of both sides. But Livability (formerly Shaftesbury Community Ministry) believe that for social activists good theology can be like the roots of a healthy tree – it can resource, nourish and sustain effective community mission.
This interactive and fun day will offer an alternative to an academic approach. It will help you reconnect your work to your deepest convictions and gain vision for how to integrate a down to earth theology into your front line work.
The facilitator is Mark Perrott who has worked in the inner city for 18 years. He spent six years working for the Earls Court Project with those caught up in homelessness and life-controlling issues. He is now Chief Executive of the Catalyst Trust and pioneered Urban Mission Toolkit, a year-long practical course for Christians who want to learn to put their faith into action in the midst of urban poverty. He has helped many people gain fresh vision and excitement for urban mission.
Date: Wednesday 11 June
Time: 9.45am - 3.30pm (start promptly at 10.00am)
Cost £10 per person to be paid on the day (includes lunch)
Venue: Salvation Army Territorial HQ, 101 Newington Causeway, Elephant and Castle, SE1 6BN
To book contact Jill Clark on 020 7452 2018 or jclark@livability.org.uk
RESOURCES
· Recommended web resources
Homeless London and Homeless UK Useful information and resources including details about all services for homeless people in London or the UK
Homeless Link The national membership organisation for frontline homelessness agencies in England
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.
Joseph Rowntree Foundation Probably the leading think tank researching poverty and disadvantage in the UK.
Ekklesia Award winning think-tank "promoting transformative theological ideas in public life."
epolitix Informative and comprehensive website for parliamentary business and the policy agenda.
thirdsector e-bulletin Lots of voluntary sector info with a focus on funding and news in the sector.
Most of these organisations offer a free sign up on their websites for daily or weekly email bulletins.
Poverty and Justice Bible 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.
Are you 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 now Donate on-line
Alastair Murray
Regions Coordinator
Housing Justice
209 Old Marylebone Road
London NW1 5QT
T :02077237273x.242
M :078 7581 0216
E a.murray@housingjustice.org.uk
Charity No 294666 Company No 2017207
Housing Justice supports practical housing projects and provides advice and training for churches and other voluntary and community groups who work with homeless people. It also undertakes campaigning work as the national voice of the churches on housing and homelessness.
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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 cost membership of Homeless Link
· Advice and Consultancy to you in your work e.g. Business Planning, Fundraising
Please send me a membership information pack
Name:
Name of Organisation/Church (if any):
Address:
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Email: