Developing Health & Independence (DHI) is a relatively new Resonance housing partner, that is now one of our biggest partners in the National Homelessness Property Fund 2, having taken over the management of our Bristol portfolio. This has offered our existing tenants continuity and stability, which is especially important at the moment with the cost of living crisis. We are now purchasing new properties for DHI in the Bristol area, to grow the number of properties they have available for people in need of a safe, affordable home. 

As part of our twentieth anniversary celebrations this year, Resonance published a book “Twenty Years of Impact, featuring the stories of many of the social enterprises, housing partners and investors who have shared our journey since 2002. David Walton, Housing & Communities Director at DHI, shared his views on the new relationship.

Turning lives around
The challenges and uncertainties facing vulnerable groups feel more pronounced than ever. The cost of living crisis coupled with the pressures of the last two years means demand for our services never been higher, and we expect that demand to only increase. But through innovative, solution focused work we believe we can continue to deliver impactful support that transforms lives.

Our services help people to recover from drug and alcohol misuse and tackle the issues and complexities linked to improper housing and homelessness. We believe that if people are given a safe and affordable home along with the right support, they can move on from the experiences that led them to access our services in the first place and achieve their full potential.

Working in partnership with Resonance
We first heard about Resonance’s work during the launch of the National Homelessness Property Fund in Bristol. In 2020, we were looking to significantly scale up our social lettings agency ‘Home Turf Lettings’ and the opportunity arose to take on the management of Resonance’s Bristol portfolio. We’ve now taken on the management of this portfolio comprising ninety-nine properties and are successfully working in partnership with Resonance.

We are also in the process of launching a really exciting project with Resonance that will provide supported accommodation to thirty-four former rough sleepers in homes right across Bristol. We’ve developed a great working partnership, based on a shared social purpose and set of values that clearly align.

The impact of Resonance
There is a real lack of social housing and affordable private rented options in the areas we work within. As a result, many vulnerable people, including families and children, are stuck in insecure and sometimes unsuitable accommodation, or even, in the most extreme circumstances, forced to sleep rough. In these situations people are often unable to address support needs. Physical and mental health can deteriorate and it becomes increasingly difficult for people to achieve their potential and move on.

Resonance targets investment to tackle these issues and has delivered at scale. Their work is underpinned by a clear theory of change and a commitment to ensuring that properties act as a platform for residents to turn their lives around. This creates an ongoing legacy for every person that lives in one of these homes.

The future of impact investing
Sadly the cost of living crisis and the withdrawal of COVID-19 benefit uplifts is putting ever increasing pressure on many of the people we support. This is happening in real time and the response of organisations like DHI needs to be as swift and targeted as possible. Impact investment can respond to these issues quickly, and at a meaningful scale. We feel that by working with Resonance we can respond meaningfully to these systemic challenges and help even more people to make real changes in their lives.