Fatima was married with three daughters and was working for the NHS in Cardiff. But sadly, throughout her marriage, she experienced domestic abuse.

In 2020, during the pandemic, Fatima’s family circumstances became incredibly challenging, and her family made the decision to spend some time overseas. During this time, Fatima and her husband divorced. This had a huge impact on the family, with Fatima returning to live in the UK, unable to bring her daughters with her.

“Without me realising there will be a huge cost in my divorce, like not seeing my kids, not having them with me, and I would really love to have them and raise them myself.”

Fatima moved to Oxford upon her return to the UK but without a home to go to she was provided with temporary accommodation, for about a year, by Oxford City Council. She was then referred to Response, one of Resonance’s National Homelessness Property Fund 2 (NHPF2) housing partners, and in May 2023 moved into her new home, a one-bed flat in Oxfordshire. Since then, she has been supported by one of Response’s housing support workers.

“For someone who had it rough and then just all of a sudden, you’re like, oh, okay this is my place. I can do whatever I want. I’ll be honest with you I have good ‘sighs’ every time I wake up.”

Within just a few weeks of moving into her new home, Fatima was able to start looking for employment and has since secured a 30-hour a week job – again with the NHS - supporting women experiencing postnatal depression. And as she is now living in stable accommodation, this summer, Fatima’s three daughters were able to travel to the UK to spend a few weeks with her. The hope is that this successful trip will see the girls returning to spend more time with their mum again soon.

“Resonance has given me this lovely property where I can see myself safe. I can sleep. I can wake up. I have a shelter and when I step in this flat the first thing I say to myself is, ‘enough is enough’, this is the time now I need to focus on myself.”

Luke Winstone, Settled Oxfordshire Manager, at Response, said, “From the feedback we’ve had this home has really given Fatima that solid foundation so that she can rebuild her life after many difficult years. Since moving in, she’s been able to meet new people and she’s managed to secure a job, which is absolutely fantastic. It’s the first time she’s had a job in a few years, and that’s really going to help her get her own identity back as well.”

National Homelessness Property Fund 2

NHPF2 purchases properties in the heart of local communities, chosen with the fund’s expert housing partners; so far it has partnered with ten across the UK. Properties are refurbished to a high standard including improving their energy efficiency.

Once refurbished, properties are handed over to the housing partner to manage tenancies and support tenants.

Stable homes allow tenants to transition from homelessness to becoming part of their community, gaining employment or training, saving for their future and giving them the ability to eventually move on into their own private accommodation.

The fund has ambition to raise £300m in order to buy 1,500 properties and to house 16,000 people across the UK, over its lifetime.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT NATIONAL HOMELESSNESS PROPERTY FUND 2:

FOR INVESTORS 

FOR HOUSING PARTNERS