• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Joint Public Issues Team

Churches working for peace and justice

  • Home Page
  • Who We Are
    • Six hopes for society
  • Issues
    • Economy
      • Tax Justice
      • Reset The Debt
      • Living Wage
    • Environment
      • Net Zero In My Neighbourhood
    • Poverty and Inequality
      • The Cost of Living Crisis
      • Universal Credit
      • Truth and Lies
      • Enough
      • Rethink Sanctions
      • Faith in Foodbanks
      • Housing and Homelessness
    • Asylum and Migration
      • Refugees
      • End Hostility
      • The Asylum System
    • Peacemaking
      • The Arms Trade
      • Nuclear Weapons
      • Drones
      • Peacemaking resources
    • Politics and Elections
      • Elections
      • Meet Your MP
      • Art of the Possible
      • Brexit
    • Other Issues
      • International Development
      • Modern Slavery and Exploitation
        • Forced labour in fashion
  • Get Involved
    • JPIT Conference 2022
    • Newsletter
    • Events
    • Walking with Micah
  • Resources
    • Advent
    • 10 Minutes on… podcast
    • Politics in the Pulpit?
    • Stay and Pray
    • Season of Creation
    • Prayers
    • Public Issues Calendar
    • Poetry
    • Small Group Resources
  • Blog

Michael’s Story

You are here: Home / Poverty and Inequality / What will you do to end homelessness? / Michael’s Story

‘Government needs to see homelessness as a crisis… for a civilised society. Housing is a human right, and Government needs to be proactive, not reactive.’

Like many people who find themselves homeless after relationship breakdowns, Michael struggled to stay in temporary accommodation. Support from Manchester Methodist Central Hall helped him to find somewhere permanent and feel at home again.

He believes that churches should do more in response to homelessness. Michael highlighted Proverbs 19:17: ‘Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.’

One of the things that he asked for churches to do was to provide affordable homes themselves. That’s exactly what Ambleside Methodist Church does – see the Church of England’s case study here. Could your church do something similar? 

Michael also called on churches and Government to work together in a closer way. That’s exactly what they’re doing where he is, in Manchester, where all the borough councils, the mayor, charities, social enterprises and faith communities are working together on their ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme. Through collaboration, they’ve been more than the sum of their parts, supporting 3000 people so far and reduced rough sleeping by 37%.

Michael also believes that other things can be learnt from A Bed Every Night. This universal, unconditional offer of shelter has worked, and it should be extended – as it was during the COVID-19 lockdown – to ensure that no-one is left without a home. It also means that some groups which are currently excluded from provision – such as some asylum seekers and other migrants – would be helped more effectively.

Primary Sidebar

Search

What will you do to end homelessness?

We’re rethinking the Churches response to homelessness, starting with experts by experience.

Find all of the videos here. 

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter

Footer

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Quick links

Stay and Pray
Politics in the Pulpit
Faith in Politics podcast
Public Issues Calendar
Useful Links

Our work

About Us
Meet the Team
Join the Team 
Internship
Our Newsletter

Contact us

25 Marylebone Road
London NW1 5JR

Tel: 020 7916 8632

enquiries@jpit.uk

Copyright © 2023 · Showcase Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in