'QHT has met its objectives over the years because of Friends’ support.' Photo: Belinda Fewings / Unsplash.
‘Without a home it is difficult to realise that of God within oneself.’
Mary Hammond on the work of Quaker Housing Trust
Quaker Housing Trust (QHT)came about as a practical social witness to Friends’ concern for housing justice, expressed at Yearly Meeting in 1966. It exists to support the creation of homes for people of any age, when they are vulnerable at points of transition in their lives. Without a home it is difficult to realise that of God within oneself.
The trust offers grants and interest-free loans to charities our trustees believe Friends would want to support: providing homes people can afford, which respect the environment, and with good space and building standards. We support new buildings and renovation work and can provide funds for furnishings to create a home. Grants can also be made for charities to get professional advice about: their project; the feasibility of a specific plan; or to evaluate their environmental approach. Innovative projects can be publicised through ‘Good Practice’ grants.
Applicants must be registered charities, complete a detailed application form, and meet conditions such as homes being let at rents that low-income occupants can genuinely afford.
Trustees meet five times a year to consider applications, in meetings held in accordance with Quaker business method. Britain Yearly Meeting supports QHT by funding a company secretary to manage the work, but all the funding for housing projects comes from direct donations and legacies.
Over the last five years these donations have enabled on average £316,000 to be offered as grants or loans (or a combination of both) each year. Repaid loans provide funding for further projects, increasing the value of the original donation. Amounts offered to individual projects are generally for less than £50,000.
QHT often focuses on innovative projects. Our funding helps get these off the ground, and helps attract other funders. Some recent examples are: flats for young adult carers (young carers can miss out on opportunities other children receive, and have particular difficulties establishing independence as young adults); family homes to avert the threat of closure of the local school; young people being able to stay in their own community instead of having to move to larger towns; homes enabling older people to remain in their community in a remote rural area; homes for young asylum seekers; and environmental assessment grants to develop plans for a Meeting house to use more of its property for housing.
QHT has met its objectives over the years because of Friends’ support. Friends, our concern for housing need and our witness for housing justice can be expressed by supporting your own housing charity, Quaker Housing Trust. Prayerful support, financial support, and offering service are all part of our response to the housing crisis.
Mary is the clerk of Quaker Housing Trust.
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