Today representatives of Christian churches gathered, together with other community leaders, at East Belfast Mission for the launch of resources to support churches in responding to homelessness and housing insecurity. 

These resources have been developed by the Irish Inter–Church Meeting — the national forum for dialogue between the Christian churches in Ireland — to build on the experience of the faith sector in responding to homelessness by raising awareness of the devastating consequences and encouraging public reflection and dialogue about the root causes.

The resources are intended to equip church communities and individual christians to look critically at the attitudes and behaviours that shape how we as a society respond to these issues, and explore how our Christian values inform that analysis. The resources include:

• A joint statement of pastoral concern from the Irish Inter–Church Committee.
• A small group bible study resource which examines the meaning of home in the Christian Scriptures and seeks to stimulate discussion exploring how we might therefore respond as Christians to the societal and political contexts we inhabit today.
• A liturgical resource for use in church services.

Co–chair of the Irish Inter–Church Committee, Rev Brian Anderson launched the resources on Thursday 13th February in The Skainos Centre, Newtownards Road, at 11:00am.

Speaking ahead of the launch Rev Anderson said: 

“In our church communities we see repeatedly the ways in which homelessness and housing insecurity are damaging social cohesion and community life. In the first three months of 2019, 4,617 households presented as homeless to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. This figure includes over one thousand children who are missing out on the security of a family home at a critical stage in their development. This suffering could be prevented if we, as a society, are prepared to make the choices that ensure that the economy serves the common good and respects and protects the dignity of all. We recognise too that it is not enough solely to look to our elected representatives to resolve this — although we have a responsibility to hold them to account — but we also need to ask ourselves challenging questions about the ways in which we may need to change our attitudes and behaviours if we are truly to be on the side of those who are vulnerable and marginalised.”

Launching the resource, Bishop Alan Abernethy stated: “My own personal journey of life and faith connects homelessness and mental health in a very profound way. Therefore I am delighted to commend this very useful resource which will help people ask the right questions rather than giving unhelpful answers.”

The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Daniel Baker, attended the launch.The Lord Mayor spoke ahead of the event,

“I commend the Irish Inter–Church meeting for developing these resources in order to support local churches as they respond to homelessness in their communities. Homelessness is an issue that we all must work together to combat – no–one should be left without a roof over their head.

“We at Belfast City Council are committed to doing all we can to address the very complex issue of homelessness, and we continue to work with statutory agencies and our city partners. While Council has no direct responsibility to the issue of homelessness, we are acutely aware of the problem, and will continue to work alongside our partners in statutory, community and voluntary organisations to try and bring an end to long–term homelessness in our city.

“I look forward to meeting with church leaders and finding out more about the problems they face in their own individual communities and how they are coming together for change.”

The resources can be found at irishchurches.org/homeless