The joy of the journey:
21 years of ecumenical action on homelessness in London

At the end of October, over 100 people filled the Moses Room in the House of Lords to mark the 21st Anniversary and Re-launch of UNLEASH (Church Action on Homelessness in London).

The meeting, hosted by Bishop Tom, was addressed by Glenda Jackson MP, the Mayor of London's Adviser on Homelessness; the Rt. Hon. Nick Raynsford MP, Minister for Local Government and the Regions; Louise Casey, the government's 'Homelessness Czar', and Robina Rafferty, Director of CHAS (Catholic Housing Aid Society).

The occasion also marked the publication of a history of UNLEASH, 'the joy of the journey', written by Dr Pat Logan, coordinator and one of the founders of UNLEASH. One quote leapt out of the book, observed Glenda Jackson. It was the words of a Catholic missionary priest who had just returned to London after several years abroad: "When I left London to work overseas, homelessness was a cause. When I came back, I found it was a business."

Nick Raynsford and Louise Casey stressed the continuing need for a body like UNLEASH particularly in complementing resettlement work. While Glenda Jackson lamented that fact that after all these years, there is still no effective pan-London strategy, Bishop Tom said that one of the strengths of UNLEASH was that it was a London-wide network.

Robina Rafferty welcomed the fact that Director of CHAS (Catholic Housing Aid Society) welcomed plans for UNLEASH to move in with CHAS in the new year. Though UNLEASH would retain its separate identity, the move would be of great benefit to both organisations.

She paid a warm tribute to Pat Logan, who retires at the end of the year and to whom a presentation was made at the event.

The journey....

UNLEASH arose out of a conference in September 1981 addressed by the late Gladys Dimson, Chair of the GLC Housing Committee, on the need for new models of provision following the planned closure of the common lodging houses where over 5,000 homeless single people were given shelter. Over the years, UNLEASH has sought to encourage churches to work in partnership with other voluntary and statutory bodies. It has encouraged the development of good standards and pressed for changes in policy on homelessness and housing.

The book

Copies of 'The joy of the journey: 21 years of ecumenical action on homelessness in London are available from UNLEASH c/o Trinity House, 020 7939 9414 (price £8.00 including p&p)