Faith in affordable housing
Housing Justice Cymru has launched a range of resources for churches looking to address the housing shortage by turning redundant land and buildings into affordable homes for their communities.
As the homelessness charity’s Faith in Affordable Housing project draws to a close, they have put together a webpage of resources that includes practical tools and guidance for churches wanting to take the next step as well as a mapping tool to identify land and building for affordable homes which it’s hoped will enable churches to create a legacy for the programme.
https://housingjustice.org.uk/faith-in-affordable-housing-legacy
Recent data from another Welsh charity, The Wallich, shows that in April 2025, nearly 11,000 people, including 2,596 children, were living in temporary accommodation in Wales; Welsh Government data for June 2025 shows that there were also an estimated 116 individuals sleeping rough, although the true figure is likely to be significantly higher than this.
To date, the Faith in Affordable Housing Project has directly resulted in the construction of 105 new homes on ten sites across Wales, offering affordable housing to at least 271 people. 58 additional new homes are either under construction or in planning.
However keen churches are in principle to do this work, in practice complex law around charities disposing of land at below market value, planning regulations around historic buildings and just not knowing where to start, means that some fall at the first hurdle.
Housing Justice’s Director for Wales, Nicola Evans, says the project has enabled the development of new affordable homes on land that would otherwise have remained derelict or disused, and which is now being used for the benefit of local communities. The churches we have worked with were keen to address the housing emergency and fulfil their Christian mission to alleviate suffering.
“The Faith in Affordable Housing team has worked closely with churches of all denominations across England and Wales for the duration of the project, providing advice and resources, as well as connecting churches with suitable housing associations, as part of our work towards ensuring that everyone has a home that meets their needs”