About the Church Housing Foundation
We believe everyone should have access to a home that is Safe, Stable, Sociable, Satisfying and Sustainable.
The Church Housing Foundation exists to mobilise and equip the Church, and connect with those who share our ambition to provide more high quality and truly affordable housing, supporting stronger communities.
Our Vision & Values
Our vision is simple: that everyone should have access to good and affordable housing. We believe that those who are poorest and most marginalised should be able to participate in that vision - benefiting as participants with power and agency.
What is ‘good’ housing?
In 2019 the Archbishops' Commission on Housing, Church and Community was set up. The commission report, Coming Home, published in February 2021 outlined the Church of England’s response to the housing crisis. It set out values rooted in the Christian story that define good housing: A Good Home is Safe, Stable, Sociable, Satisfying and Sustainable.
Our Role
The Church Housing Foundation is homed within and supported by the Church of England, but open to anyone who agrees with these values and shares our vision.
The Church Housing Foundation works with others who want to build or improve affordable housing. It does not directly build houses, but instead works with those in the Church who want to get involved in meeting housing need, or make better use of land and property. This also means working with housing professionals, industry and government to create an environment where building more and building better is achievable. We want to work together with others so that the aims and objectives of the Church - that are often widely shared - come to fruition in the best possible way.
Individuals and families facing homelessness or dealing with poor housing are very important to us, but we do not work directly on crisis support. Our partners such as Housing Justice are able to signpost individuals to help. Our work is focussed on long term solutions to the housing crisis.
Our Origins
Following the Archbishops' Commission on Housing, Church and Community and the ‘Coming Home’ report, the Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, the Bishop of Chelmsford, was appointed as the lead Bishop for Housing for the Church of England. A small team gathered together to explore how the Church could put the vision into practice, under Bishop Guli’s leadership, supported by a Housing Advisory Board.
Through dialogue with those working in housing within and outside the Church, partners and government, the Church Housing Foundation was established; a key part of the Church response to the housing crisis.
Our Governance
The Church Housing Foundation is in a setup phase. It is currently led by three trustees who are involved in the Church of England’s work on housing, and will be putting in place structures and recruitment for the fully trustee board. The work is being resourced by the Diocese of Gloucester on behalf of the national church, supported by the Housing Advisory Board chaired by the Bishop of Chelmsford.