Changing the trajectory: combatting the homeless crisis

As the cost of living crisis bites, our streets and communities are changing, with the most vulnerable feeling the impact the hardest. For those of us who haven’t experienced homelessness, it’s hard to imagine what it would be like. 

Tragically, homelessness is a reality for hundreds of thousands of people across the UK.* The affordable housing shortage, rising costs, and pressures on local services mean homelessness and people living in temporary accommodation is at a 25-year high**, and this number will likely rise. But there’s an opportunity to make a change in these times, and we see that the church has the mandate, and resources, to be part of the solution. 

Despite the scale of homelessness, at Green Pastures, we believe that a future without homelessness is possible. Green Pastures helps Christians respond to the needs of the homeless crisis. Starting 24 years ago with a local church in Southport offering shelter to local rough sleepers, we’ve since grown to a UK-wide organisation helping to house and support thousands of people. We work with around 100 local Christian organisations to change the lives of people who are homeless and marginalised. 

In partnership with Amazing Grace Spaces in Newport, we purchased a property and currently offer a home to six people. Steph is a tenant and explains how much a safe and secure home has helped in her recovery process: ​“After a traumatic childhood, filled with abuse, I struggled with mental illness and self-harm. I didn’t have any care for my life or where I was going. In the process of going in and out of rehab from the age of 19, that’s where I gave my heart to Jesus, realised that I could have a life of freedom and be healed from everything, and God could use me to help others. I was on a mate’s sofa and met Caroline [from Amazing Grace Spaces] and they took me in. This is a good place of having independence but having that support. My heart now is for the homeless, the addicts, the prostitutes. I have so much love in my heart for broken people because of how broken I was. For me, getting to love people that are really struggling is the best feeling in the world, getting to see them find Jesus, accept Jesus, it’s amazing.” 

“This is the first thing I’ve ever achieved”, says Chris, another one of our residents. Chris arrived at our training centre,
Mattersey Hall, after a troubled childhood led to drug addiction, prison and homelessness. Over the last year, Chris has grown to become a mentor at Mattersey, healed of past traumas, with an amazing faith in Jesus. Chris has gained all the tools he needs to go and make a difference, including qualifying with an NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care and completing an internship as part of the team at Mattersey Hall. Chris said on completion of his stay, ​“I came with nothing, but after 365 days of persevering with God, now I’ve got hunger and I’ve got a drive. I’m leaving with everything I could possibly need.” Chris is making a significant difference, now working with a ministry in Scotland. 

An investment that changes a life 

Green Pastures’ work isn’t funded by donors like many charities. A key to our growth has been more than 1,500 investors, who enable us to do the work we do. Anyone wishing to invest their money in a life-changing way can invest from £1,000 and we pay them up to 5% annually to help us change lives and be part of ending homelessness; it’s a win-win. Investors’ money is used to purchase property for local Christian partners to house and support those in need. This model has helped Green Pastures meet the growing demand and run transformative, high- quality supported housing projects in partnership across the UK – changing hundreds of lives like Steph’s and Chris’ every day.

Every Christian playing their part

We have a clear biblical calling to care for those in need, and we believe that Christians should be playing an integral role in tackling homelessness, whether that be individuals or churches stewarding their finances by investing in good work housing the homeless, or local Christian groups sharing the love of Jesus in a very practical way as they provide a home to those people who are homeless. As the need grows, we are inviting Christian investors and partners to make a difference alongside us.

*Research from Shelter (Jan 2023) shows at least 271,000 people recorded as homeless in England, including 123,000 children. 

** Latest official figures (July 2023) show almost 105,000 households were in temporary accommodation, including more than 131,000 children, on 31 March this year, which is 10% up on the same day last year. This latest figure for temporary accommodation surpasses a previous high of 101,300 reached in 2004, and is the highest since records began in 1998.