THE cold weather, and the impact of public-spending cuts, have
prompted churches and charities to step up their work with the
homeless and vulnerable.
A service will be held in Derby Cathedral on Sunday to mark
Poverty and Homelessness Action Week, which starts on Saturday.
The Dean of Derby, the Very Revd Dr John Davies, said: "The
evidence clearly suggests that, as the economic gloom continues,
homelessness is becoming more and more of an issue. There are two
things which the cathedral can certainly do: highlight the issue,
and offer every encouragement to those working on the front line,
helping the homeless of Derby and the wider country."
One in three respondents to a survey of 4000 British adults by
YouGov for the homelessness charity Shelter, said that the cost of
housing was causing "stress and depression" in their family. One in
four of the respondents to the survey said that worries about
housing costs were "causing arguments with their partner and other
family members".
The chief executive of Shelter, Campbell Robb, said: "These
findings reveal the heartbreaking reality of living in fear of
losing your home. Behind closed doors, millions of families face
stress, sleepless nights, and strained relationships as they
desperately struggle to afford their housing bills."
The Contextual Theology Centre (CTC) and the Church Urban Fund
have produced a five-week Lent course, Seeing Change,
which, the CTC said, would "help churches explore the deep biblical
tradition on money and connect it to the experiences of ordinary
people today".
Social-care comment. The Bishop of Carlisle,
the Rt Revd James Newcome, said last week that a report, The
Other Care Crisis, published by five disability charities,
showed "how the social-care system is failing to meet the needs of
disabled people of working age".
Bishop Newcome said: "To date, much of the debate on social care
has centred on older people and the needs of an ageing population.
But one-third of those who need care and support are under 65."
www.actionweek.org.uk/home.html
www.shelter.org.uk/housinghelp
www.theology-centre.org