News

31 January 2007

Ethical housing company plans to 'make homelessness history' in Wolverhampton

'Creating Homes for the Homeless' conference, Saturday 3rd February

Ethical housing company, Green Pastures Housing Limited, is presenting their proven solution to homelessness at the 'Creating Homes for the Homeless' conference on Saturday 3rd February at the All Nations Christian Centre in Wolverhampton. The conference extends an open invitation to everyone in the local community with an interest in homelessness.

Keynote speaker at the conference will be Pete Cunningham, or Pastor Pete as he is known, Pastor of Shoreline Church in Southport and Director of Green Pastures. In just 8 years the company has housed over 200 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."

This 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 154 housing units that are contained in 78 properties with others in the pipeline. This model works. The asset base has grown from one house to property valued at £10.5m in just 5 years. Green Pastures is now working with 12 local authorities around the country.

Green Pastures responded to an invitation from All Nations Church. Pastor Steve Uppal of All Nations said: "We are really excited at hosting this conference. We've seen that this model works and already have houses lined up for Green Pastures to buy. We look forward to the day when there are no more homeless on the streets of Wolverhampton and want to play a part in that."

Conference details: Saturday, 3rd February, 2007 10am-1pm
All Nations Christian Centre,
Temple Street/Summer Row,
Wolverhampton,
WV2 4AQ
www.allnations.org.uk
Tel: 01902 714469 - call to reserve book buffet lunch - free of charge.