For Eleanor, a full-time working single mother of two, housing had long been a major source of stress. Like many parents in her situation, she faced the near-impossible task of balancing work, childcare, and her own wellbeing - while searching for somewhere safe and stable to call home.

“Understandably, housing is one of the biggest worries for (single) parents – it can be a massive strain on your health and wellbeing.”, Eleanor explained.

Before finding her current home, Eleanor had been living in temporary accommodation, an all-too-common experience for the more than one million households currently on social housing waiting lists in the UK [1]. The search for a permanent home felt out of reach. But thanks to a partnership between social inclusion charity, Developing Health & Independence (DHI) and Resonance’s National Homelessness Property Fund 1 (NHPF1), Eleanor’s housing situation - and her family’s future - changed for the better.

“I was immensely grateful when I was able to view the apartment – I fell in love with it straight away,” she said. “I’ve now lived here for just over two years. The location is everything I could ask for – everything is within walking distance: shops, GP, nursery, schools etc. And we have access to a beautiful communal garden that we use nearly every day.”

Launched in 2015, NHPF1 is one of Resonance’s five homelessness property funds that provide safe, decent and settled homes for individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. So far, the five funds have housed over 2,300 people in 1,187 homes.

The funds work by leasing properties to expert housing partners like DHI, who then support tenants not only in securing a home, but also in sustaining their tenancy and rebuilding their lives through tailored wraparound support.

For Eleanor and her children, the impact of having a secure home has been transformative.

“It means we all get to live comfortably together and without any added stresses or discomfort. This is our home - and it feels like it. Before, I had to try my best to make it a home, and my children felt this because I tried my best. Now I don’t have to try as hard -  we are so settled, and this radiates throughout them.”

The change has been especially significant for her children. “They love their home,” she says. “There’s outside space, and they can walk to bigger parks and fields. In our previous accommodation, we had no outdoor areas and felt quite isolated - especially during winter.”

Being settled has also made full-time work more manageable. “I don’t have to worry about transport or school pickups because everything is so close. It’s made the work-life balance so much more enjoyable.”

Eleanor was pleasantly surprised by how smooth the process was. “It was quite fast if I’m honest. I got a lot of help with forms and applying for white goods. The only thing that could have helped more would be referrals to second-hand shops or charities - something to help low-income families furnish their homes more easily.”

Looking ahead, Eleanor is beginning to dream again. “In the future, I’d like to get a bigger house with a private garden. This home has been the stepping stone we needed. Being grounded here has made me think more realistically about what I want in life and how to achieve it.”

And her advice to others going through similar challenges?

“Trust the process and timing. It can be very hard to think clearly when you’re in fight-or-flight mode. But just know that it will fall into place. DHI have a great range of places where people can make a real home.”

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About our National Homelessness Property Fund 2 (NHPF2)

Launched in December 2020, NHPF2 was created to address the growing need for safe, affordable housing for people in crisis.

To date, the fund has acquired over 300 properties, housing and supporting over 400 people, including almost over 100 children. With a goal to purchase around 700 homes and support over 7,000 people over its lifetime, NHPF2 is still actively deploying funds in Liverpool, Gloucestershire, and London to help more individuals and families in urgent need of housing.

About Developing Health & Independence

DHI is a charity supporting people facing challenges related to homelessness, addiction, and mental ill health. Through housing, support and recovery services, DHI helps people turn their lives around and achieve lasting independence.

[1] Shelter: 650 social homes lost in England last year, while 1.3m households are stuck on waiting lists

*Name has been changed