The Significance of a Spare Room: Embracing London's Housing Challenge
Written by Naiha Masih, James Venvell, Neja Zupan and Harry Brown
Living in London varies for everyone. We’re fortunate enough to be in a central London community house and know where we’re going to sleep each night. However, many aren't as fortunate.
We wanted to have spare room for anyone who needed a place to stay and the comfort and stability of a home, our house made the deliberate decision when we moved in that some of us would share bedrooms. This choice has meant we have the financial capacity to offer a spare room to those in our community who need it most.
By sharing our experience, we aim to shed light on the broader narrative of housing challenges in London. We hope to encourage others to join in the conversation, growing awareness and action to address this issue in our community.
Living generously
Our motivation to have a spare room goes beyond practicality. It's a call to live generously, inspired by the belief that our abundance should be shared with others. This generosity finds its roots in our understanding of God's extravagant generosity and love.
We've opened our doors to a range of people, including ex-offenders, refugees, friends of friends who don't know anyone in London and of course our friends and family. It’s not always straightforward and sometimes takes time to get right. But, when we remember Jesus said in Matthew 25:35-37 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was a stranger and you invited me in. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me,” it hits home that before it’s hosting, before it’s loving your neighbour - it’s worship.
Care beyond shelter
Our commitment goes beyond offering a place to stay, it's about offering genuine care. Through shared meals, games, and heartfelt conversations, we aim to create an atmosphere where people in need feel valued and cared for. This approach reflects our desire to embody what it says in James 1:27, seeking to uplift those in distress.
We’re not able to give loads of money away or be much of a financial support to people, but for the housemates who’ve chosen to share a room, they’re giving a piece of themselves. They’re putting others' needs before their own, just like the early church did to try and support people on the margins.
Challenges and rewards of hosting
Hosting people in need comes with its set of challenges, including language barriers and cultural differences. It involves sacrifice, like providing resources for their needs and demonstrating patience and compassion when it comes to tricky conversations or behaviours. Yet, the joy brought by building relationships and seeing them relax and thrive far outweighs these challenges.
Hosting provides a unique opportunity to be part of someone's transformative journey toward stability. The shared experiences create lasting memories and cultural understanding, blessing all of those involved.
Inspiring positive change in our city
Living in shared community challenges us to embrace diversity and reflect the compassionate spirit of Jesus. It prompts us to reevaluate our social circles and deepen our understanding of injustices in our society.
All we have comes from God, and that includes our time, space, shelter and money. It is important for us to love others because Jesus first loved the foreigner, neighbour, outcast and enemy. Hosting isn't merely about providing shelter; it's about contributing to positive change in our community and sharing the boundless love of our Father.
Our part to play – here's how you can get involved:
Hosting: If you’d like to know more about being a host or landlord (refugee letting scheme) we have an information evening with Housing Justice on Monday 18th March. Sign up here.
Pray: Lift up those without shelter in your prayers and speak with God about how you can contribute to positive change in your community.
Join the team: If you’re interested in getting involved with the wider Refugee Ministry then sign-up here. You could also get in touch with Naiha, a community advocate at KXC.
Stay tuned: Keep an eye out for more information and resources from KXC. You don't have to have everything figured out to get started; begin by having a think, a pray, and starting the conversation with God. He will provide the people and the place.
Let's join together in growing a community where everyone has a place to call home, where generosity knows no bounds, and where the love of God is shared with those who need it most.