Church land should be released to build more ‘truly affordable’ homes, according to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York in the United Kingdom.

The archbishops’ report, Coming Home, sets out vital actions for the Church, Government and others to build better communities and more truly affordable homes, not just houses. 

Coming Home’s recommendations include:

1. Homes on church land that align with five core housing values: sustainable, safe, stable, sociable and satisfying
2. Church land holdings are reviewed to deliver more truly affordable homes
3. Church Commissioners release strategic land for many more affordable homes
4. Clergy and lay activists are offered training on how to engage on housing matters
5. Local church community work shifts from crisis interventions to prevention

About 8 million people in England are living in overcrowded, unaffordable or unsuitable housing, according to the National Housing Federation.

Coming Home calls for a 20-year strategy to increase the supply of truly affordable homes, backed by a substantial increase in public capital investment and a phased reduction in the price of land. As part of this call for action, Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani has been appointed as Bishop for Housing. See the full report: https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/priorities/coming-home