Oskar, originally from Poland, is now rebuilding his life in Bristol after moving into one of our National Homelessness Property Fund 2 (NHPF2) homes, following a period of housing instability that put both his health and recovery at serious risk.

He’s being supported by one of the fund’s housing partners, Developing Health & Independence (DHI). With the right home and consistent support that meets his needs, Oskar is now in a much stronger position to focus on his wellbeing and a more positive future.

Oskar’s journey into housing instability began during his time living in shared accommodation with three other people – all of whom who regularly used drugs and alcohol. As someone in recovery from alcohol addiction and living with severe heart failure, this environment was particularly difficult and unsuitable for him, posing a serious risk – potentially life-threatening consequences - to his physical health.

He was able to move into a privately rented property and was happy there, having a positive relationship with his landlord, but when he was served a Section 21 notice because the property was being sold, he was required to leave. With limited income from benefits, finding suitable alternative housing was extremely challenging.

Without access to stable and appropriate housing, Oskar faced a situation where both his addiction recovery and his physical health were at risk.

This changed when he was offered a NHPF2 home and support - through DHI.

Having a stable, self-contained home has provided Oskar with the calm and security he needs to better manage his health condition. He is fully engaged with his healthcare support, attending all medical appointments and taking prescribed medication, while carefully pacing his daily activities to avoid putting strain on his heart.

His new home has also had a positive impact on Oskar’s mental health – he’s shown improved insight, motivation, and emotional stability, and is developing healthier ways to manage health-related anxiety and low mood.

Alongside this, he is working towards better financial independence, building his confidence in managing money and beginning to set personal saving goals.

Support from DHI has been central to this progress. Through regular sessions and trust-building check-ins with his support worker, Oli, Oskar has been able to feel more comfortable engaging with support services. This consistency has been particularly important given the language barriers he sometimes experiences, helping him to better understand and access the support available to him.

Oskar remains committed to his recovery and plays an active role himself, in the recovery community. He runs an Alcoholics Anonymous group in his local community in Bristol, and attends additional sessions, offering support to others while maintaining his own progress. He has also built a small network of friends, helping to reduce isolation and strengthen his sense of community.

With a safe and stable home, Oskar now has the foundation needed to focus on his health, maintain his recovery, and continue moving forward.

His story highlights the critical role that stable housing plays - not just in providing shelter, but in supporting health, recovery, and long-term wellbeing.

Resonance’s work in Bristol

In Bristol, Resonance’s National Homelessness Property Funds 1 and 2 have partnered with expert housing and support charity, Developing Health & Independence. Together, they provide stable, affordable homes alongside tailored support to help people rebuild their lives.

So far, over 546 people in Bristol have been housed in 136 properties, supported by £23m raised from social impact investors, helping to reduce homelessness across the city.

Resonance’s Homelessness Property Funds

Resonance’s five homelessness property funds are impact investment funds designed to provide stable and affordable homes for people facing housing crisis. Properties are refurbished to a high standard, often improving energy efficiency, and are leased to expert housing partners who manage tenancies and provide support.

Since the first fund launched in 2013, around 4,000 people have been housed in c1,300 properties across Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Oxford, Milton Keynes and London.