Church Housing Trust was first founded in 1984 in response to the need for additional funds to be generated to support residents and tenants in properties owned by Church Housing Association (now part of English Churches Housing Group) which had previously benefited from charitable funds held by Church Army. The hostels had been transferred to Church Housing Association  in 1977, principally because Church Army as a charity had no access to public funding to improve the fabric of hostels and other housing properties.

Keyworkers help all hostel residents to access benefits, receive appropriate medical attention and counselling to help them on the road to recovering their self-esteem.

Church Housing Trust takes positive action to provide better facilities, opportunities and futures for homeless people whilst promoting a wider national understanding of the difficulties faced by those in housing need. It raises funds nationally for the establishment, equipping, organising, furnishing and maintenance of housing, hostel and other accommodation. Church Housing Trust reaches the elderly, students, single people, families and the physically and mentally ill who are unable by reason of poverty, sickness, age or youth to make adequate provision for themselves.

Life skills training encompasses many aspects of independent living, including budgeting and learning basic skills. The residents shown here with their instructor are from King Georges hostel in Westminster.