Four adults with learning disabilities and autism are celebrating receiving the keys to their newly developed, specially adapted home in Witney, Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire County Council has invested £5 million into the Resonance Supported Homes Fund that has bought and refurbished the property, in partnership with housing provider, Golden Lane Housing.

The home in Witney is the first of five properties planned for Oxfordshire, providing person-centred housing for adults with additional needs, with four more due to open in Banbury, Bicester, Kidlington and Horspath later this year.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “This is a key part of our Oxfordshire Way vision, to support people to live well, within their own communities. Through working with partners, we are delivering a scheme that is making a real difference to adults with learning disabilities and autism, supporting them to live in their own home, with all the independence and happiness that brings.”

The six-bedroom property in Witney includes off street parking and has an enclosed back garden. It has had extensive refurbishment and includes a new boiler, adaptions to the kitchen and dining room to create a kitchen-diner and renovations to the garden to make it safe, accessible and manageable for all the tenants to maintain.

Four members of the new household moved in two weeks ago and have been been settling into their new surroundings. They have also been meeting staff from Midco Care who will be supporting them on a daily basis. A fifth person is due to move in shortly.

Hannah, who’s 38, is one of the new tenants. Having previously lived in a shared supporting housing scheme in Oxford, she’s now moved into the Witney home which is closer to her mother and siblings.

Hannah said: “This house makes a whole lot of difference to my life at the moment – I was so happy to find it.”

The Resonance Supported Homes Fund is a homelessness property fund, created in 2020 by social impact property fund manager, Resonance. It is designed to provide a solution to the acute housing shortage that leaves thousands of adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health problems struggling to access homes suitable for them that meet their needs.

The fund selects and buys the properties, which are located at the heart of local communities, so that residents are close to local amenities, such as shops and GP surgeries, good public transport and support services and networks, including friends and family.

Once purchased, each property is fully refurbished and refitted to a bespoke specification as well as having its energy efficiencies improved to help reduce tenants’ energy bills.

Daniel Brewer, CEO, Resonance, said: “Handing over this first property in Witney to Golden Lane Housing is a key milestone in the Resonance Supported Homes Fund’s ambition to provide the right housing for people with learning disabilities and autism in Oxfordshire. It was an absolute delight and privilege to meet some of the tenants that have recently moved into the beautiful new home that our fund has bought and refitted to meet their needs. Thanks to the investment from Oxfordshire County Council, and the fund’s partnership with expert housing partner, Golden Lane Housing, the fund is now making a difference to the lives of four people living in a home that is right for them, enabling them to live fulfilling lives with independence and choice.”

Once the property has been refurbished and adapted, it is transferred to a housing provider. In Oxfordshire, Golden Lane Housing has been chosen as a partner for the projectfund, offering specialist support to enable the new tenants to gain independence and have enjoy a successful tenancy.

John Verge, CEO, Golden Lane Housing, said: “We are delighted to be working with Resonance and its Supported Homes Fund to provide quality homes that meet the need of individuals. Resonance has a long-proven ability in the housing sector of sourcing properties that are suitable for tenants and long-term operational partnerships with other housing associations.

“Golden Lane Housing has worked nationally for over 25 years providing specialist accommodation. The work Golden Lane Housing and the fund will be carrying out together, will ensure it contributes to addressing the great need for supported housing for people with learning disabilities and autistic people across Oxfordshire.”

Alongside the property in Witney, the fund is providing an additional four homes at locations in Banbury, Horspath, Bicester and Kidlington. In total, the homes will provide accommodation for 22 adults with learning disabilities and autism in Oxfordshire.

ABOUT THE RESONANCE SUPPORTED HOMES FUND

The Resonance Supported Homes Fund is a social impact investment proeprty fund that provides a solution to the desperate housing shortage that leaves thousands of adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health issues living in inappropriate housing, or on long waiting lists for housing.

The fund has twenty-one properties in its portfolio so far. This is a mix of shared and one-bedroom properties. Eight properties have been handed over to two housing partners so far, and between them, six of them are housing fifteen tenants. Other proprties are in refurbishment whilst the fund continues to deploy and purchase additional properties across the UK for its housing partners.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RESONANCE SUPPORTED HOMES FUND