Sound beliefs

‘Housing its citizens in secure, safe, adequate homes is, Quakers believe, one of the marks of a civilised society.’ This is the stark statement made by Quaker Housing Trust clerk Jenny Brierley at a recent national meeting of the Society of Friends. I think this is a timely reminder to us all, whatever faith, during poverty and homeless action week, that we need to take action now.

I am saddened that the need to support housing and homelessness projects has not diminished since QHT was formed in the wake of the Cathy Come Home drama in 1966. While housing conditions have improved considerably since the 1960s, research shows us that vulnerable groups have become even more marginalised. The current welfare policy is only deepening the housing and poverty crisis, hitting the poorest people in our communities hardest.

My colleagues at Quaker Homeless Action report a significant worsening in poverty at their Christmas shelter in London. They are shocked at the increase in homelessness and the numbers of people who are actually in work, but don’t have enough money for food, and who came to the shelter for food parcels.

This is why we’ve sponsored poverty and homeless action week since Housing Justice was formed in 2003, among many other projects that we support. Our sponsorship means that individuals and churches across the country have the resource materials they need to raise money and awareness, which will provide vital support to housing projects throughout the coming year.

We’ll continue to fund social housing projects by making grants and interest-free loans through the mix of legacies, loan repayments, gifts and donations that make up our financial resources. Since 2011 we’ve made 45 loans/grants to 40 housing projects from community groups that provide homes and skills to find work, to projects that are turning unused church buildings and land into local homes.

It’s about putting Quaker principles into practice and putting our money where our mouth is. We’ll continue to do this, despite being a small charity.

Paula Harvey is the secretary of the Quaker Housing Trust