News

29 June 2007 NEWS RELEASE

Proven homelessness solution to be presented at UNLEASH in Lewisham on 19 July

Ethical housing company, Green Pastures (North-West) Limited, will be contributing to the Housing Justice UNLEASH Open Space Event on Thursday 19 July in central London entitled ‘Action on Homelessness – a Hand-Up not a Hand-Out’. They will be talking about their proven solution to homelessness. The event will be attended by churches, agencies and individuals concerned with housing and homelessness in London and across the UK. Attendees will explore the tensions churches face between providing practical help and support to homeless people and encouraging them to adopt more healthy lifestyles. Housing Justice is the national Christian charity concerned with housing and homelessness.

Pete Cunningham, Pastor Pete as he is known, is Pastor of Shoreline Church in Southport, Lancashire and Director of Green Pastures. In just 8 years the company has housed over 700 homeless people in Southport and made homelessness history in the town. “We purchase property on the open market and house people who are roofless or homeless, including ex-offenders, without discrimination or favour. Our schemes are successful and many of our tenants go on to successfully rebuild their lives. We achieve this by involving local churches in providing pastoral support and friendship to the tenants. As Christians this is the kind of work we were designed for – Jesus called us to help the poor and Green Pastures simply provides the framework within which to do that effectively.”

Green Pastures is a not-for-profit ethical investment company in which savers can buy shares and earn a 4% dividend (5% on loans). The company owns 178 housing units with others in the pipeline. This model works. The asset base has grown from one house to property valued at £11m in just 6 years.

Green Pastures is now working with 12 Partnerships, including local authorities, around the country and running a pilot scheme with the Home Office to solve the prison overcrowding problem by housing and supporting ex-offenders and reducing re-offending.

Green Pastures responded to an invitation from Housing Justice’s UNLEASH Coordinator, Alastair Murray, who said: “We are really looking forward to hosting this Open Space event. We support creative solutions to the problems of housing and homelessness like those pioneered by Green Pastures. Churches have a vital role to play in helping people who are homeless and on the margins and the Green Pastures partnership model enables churches to put Christian principles into action. We share and endorse Green Pastures’ vision of ending homelessness in the UK.”

Conference details: Thursday, 19 July 2007 9am-5pm St Paul’s Church, Robert Adam St, London W1U 3HW (nearest tube Bond Street/ Baker Street) http://www.housingjustice.org.uk/hjunleash/news/19julyevent.htm

Call Housing Justice, tel: 020 7723 7273 for further details or to book a place.