‘Housing is a Justice Issue’: the High Sheriff of Essex in conversation with The Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, Lead Bishop for Housing for the Church of England and Robb Saggs, CEO of Chess Homeless.

In a short series of conversations, The High Sheriff of Essex, Nicholas Alston CBE DL is exploring current justice issues with leading experts.

From a moral, a theological or a simply practical perspective, decent housing for everyone should be a given; it is a matter of social justice. From a criminal justice perspective, decent accommodation is crucial to the rehabilitation of those on release from prison or who are seeking to recover from the addictions that fuel so much crime.

This event is open to all, and questions and discussion are welcomed.

Nick Alston, the current High Sheriff of Essex, is a former senior civil servant. He was elected as the first Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex from 2012-2016 after which he helped establish the Policing Institute for the Eastern Region at Anglia Ruskin University. Appointed a CBE in 1997 and DL in 2016, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws by Anglia Ruskin University in 2021. He has been a member of the Cathedral congregation for many years.

The Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani has served as Bishop of Chelmsford since April 2021. Chelmsford is the second largest diocese in the Church of England in terms of population and serves the communities of Essex and East London. In January 2021, Bishop Guli was also appointed as the lead Bishop for Housing for the Church of England and she has served as a member of the Lords Spiritual in the House of Lords since November 2021.

Rob Saggs has been the CEO and leader of CHESS Homeless for the past 12 years. He has extensive experience working in the third sector and is a graduate of the ARU, having completed the university's Cert HE in Charity and Social Enterprise Management. Rob is passionate about giving people the opportunity for a more fulfilling life and seeing them become the best versions of themselves they can be. CHESS Homeless operate in 8 Local authorities throughout Essex and accommodated over 180 people in the last financial year.