Churches Housing Group Celebrates 20th Anniversary

^{Left to right: Alastair Cameron, Convener of Scottish Churches Housing Action, Professor Sarah Johnsen, Institute for Social Policy, Housing, Environment and Real Estate, Heriot-Watt University, Reverend Graeme Wilson, Convener of Scottish Churches Housing Action, Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews & Edinburgh.}

The pivotal role of Scotland’s Christian communities in tackling homelessness was celebrated last week as Scottish Churches Housing Action marked its 20th anniversary.

A celebratory evening at the Gillis Centre in Edinburgh was attended by representatives of the 13 Christians denominations who participate in the work of Scottish Churches Housing Action along with other invited guests.

Prior to a thanksgiving dinner, the representatives heard a guest address from Professor Sarah Johnsen of the Institute for Social Policy, Housing, Environment and Real Estate at Heriot-Watt University

“There have been many positive developments in homelessness policy in recent years, and that Scotland is now regarded as having one of the most progressive approaches in the world,” said Professor Johnsen.

“However, a number of recent and proposed changes restrict the ability of the existing system to do what it was designed to. There are also worrying signs that levels of homelessness may increase for particular groups, most notably young people, in the near future”.

Scottish Churches Housing Action was founded on 17 January 1995. The current Chief Executive, Alastair Cameron, was the organisation’s first member of staff.

“We are still a small organisation but we’ve got a vison that there can be a Scotland free from homelessness and it’s our job to support and encourage the churches towards working towards that vision,” he said.

“So while we celebrate what we’ve achieved over the 20 years, we also want to tell church leaders that there remains a challenge of homelessness in Scotland – the job is not done!”

Scottish Churches Housing Action has a substantial track record in developing local volunteer-based initiatives such as its recent befriending initiatives for homeless people. It also encourages the development of affordable housing from redundant or under-used church property as well as increasing an understanding of homelessness, and policies that will end it.

“Tonight we are not celebrating the fact that there is still homelessness but we are celebrating the work we have done,” said the Convener of Scottish Churches Housing Action, the Rev Graeme Wilson, minister of Bearsden Cross Church.

“We are focussed on the challenge that still lies before us and we are committing ourselves once again to work, not just on homelessness itself, but also on the causes of homelessness.”

The event's host, the Most Rev Leo Cushley, Roman Catholic Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, said: “I congratulate Scottish Churches Housing Action for two decades of faith in action. It gives me great pleasure to host the 20th anniversary celebrations which affords me the chance to remind myself – and the faithful that I represent – that there is still a task for us in helping the poorest in our society.”

Milestone for Churches Housing Group

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