William comes from Norfolk but has lived in Bristol now for over five years and is a Developing Health and Independence (DHI) tenant. He did well at school and when he turned eighteen, received an inheritance, some of which he used to buy a property. As a result of acquiring a sum of money, he soon found himself attracting the attention of older people who were criminally minded.

He started drinking and clubbing which was when he started to take drugs, becoming a big part of his lifestyle. Soon, he found himself following in the footsteps of his older friends, and eventually ‘overtook them’ in drug usage. This resulted in years of crime to feed his drug habit, including long stints in prison.

William shares his story in this film; his background and experiences of homelessness and what it was like for him when he was first offered and moved into his new home.

“Then one thing led to another, one drug led to another, and we were partying and, you know, it all ended up in a big mishmash of jail and prison, and more prison, and more drugs, and coming out and going back, and benefits, and owing people money and moving around the country. It was chaotic, probably for twenty years.

I’ve done about ten years all in all, in prison. And being locked in a room for ten years, it does something to you. My family stuck with me, though. Which was strange, as a lot of people I met in prison didn’t have that. Prison has probably saved my life several times.

The last time I was in prison I was sentenced to six years. After serving three years, I was released from prison on a licence. I was out of prison for a matter of weeks before resuming my old lifestyle. It was like I had never been away.”

William was then recalled to serve more time in prison. When he had two years left on his sentence, William was asked if he would like to go into a residential rehab.

“And I thought, yeah, course I will. Anything.”

After leaving prison, William rented a property in Bristol, but following a house fire caused by the landlord, he suddenly found himself in emergency accommodation. This was when DHI stepped in. William had previously met Damien (DHI’s Supported Move On Team Leader) from DHI before, who came around to interview him. Damien explained how he could help William.

“I kind of thought ‘this all sounds a little too good to be true’, do you know what I mean? Who in their right mind is actually going do this for me, for nothing, and do it as quick as he has done this? It sounded nice, but it sounded a bit like a fairy tale to me, and yet, here we are.

It still seems strange, really. The flat is really nicely put together. When I came into this place and saw everything that DHI and the housing team - and the work they have done for me - it was emotional. It was hard to believe. It still is hard to believe. It’s unlike a council property ‘here’s a house and £60 to go and paint it’. Instead, Resonance and DHI have given me all my white goods, a table and chairs, a walk-in shower, bed …, I couldn’t ask for much more. If I had to rent a place, it would have been a hovel, it would be nothing like the flat I live in now.

If you’re an addict it’s a fight. Everything, every day. But when I wake up in the morning here, I haven’t got any worries anymore. I just think I’m very lucky.”

How National Homelessness Property Fund 2 (NHPF2) works

William is one of Resonance’s NHPF2’s tenants. He is supported with his tenancy alongside access to other support services by one of the fund’s expert housing partners, DHI, in Bristol.

The fund purchases properties in the heart of local communities, chosen with the fund’s expert housing partners. Properties are refurbished to a high standard including improving their energy efficiency and once refurbished, they are handed over to housing partners 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.

So far, over 300 people have been provided with a place to call home and a chance to rebuild their lives. The fund has ambition to purchase 1,500 properties and to house around 15,000 people over its lifetime.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT NATIONAL HOMELESSNESS PROPERTY FUND 2 HERE.