More than 60 women and children experiencing homelessness in Scotland are restarting their lives, thanks to a £7.7m investment from the Women in Safe Homes Fund.
The homes, delivered in partnership with Scottish homelessness charity Cyrenians, are supporting women and children, including women fleeing domestic abuse, and families at risk of homelessness.
The investment, from the Women in Safe Homes fund, which was launched by Resonance in partnership with Patron Capital, has provided homes in Edinburgh for women and children at a critical point in their lives. The partnership with Cyrenians started in 2023, with the final property being handed over this month.
There are currently 10,480 children trapped in temporary accommodation in Scotland, according to Shelter Scotland, highlighting the need for more safe, affordable housing.
Women and children who move into a Cyrenians’ home are provided not only with a roof over their head but also access to specialist support services to help them recover from trauma, tackle mental health issues, build confidence, live with independence, find employment and build financial resilience.
For example, mother-of-two Hanna found herself in a shelter after fleeing domestic violence. Thanks to the Women in Safe Homes Fund and Cyrenians, her family was able to move into a refurbished flat in Edinburgh.
Hanna said: “Having a place to live has made us feel positive again, and the children have started to get their confidence back. Since moving into the flat, I’ve started to feel that I can make decisions for myself and choose my own life again.”
Amy Hutton, Director of Services at Cyrenians, said: “Safe, stable housing is the foundation for rebuilding lives. For the women and children we support, having a place to call home means more than just a roof over their heads – it brings security, dignity and the chance to begin again.
“This partnership with the Women in Safe Homes fund allows us to reach more families at a critical moment, providing not only high-quality homes but the tailored support needed to help them move towards a more positive and independent future.”
The properties are a mixture of one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom homes. All have been refurbished by the fund and are located close to local amenities including public transport, shops and schools.
Tom Compton, Property Fund Manager for Resonance’s Women in Safe Homes fund, said: “This investment shows how social impact capital can play a meaningful role in tackling homelessness among women and children. By working with Cyrenians, we’re able to ensure these homes are not only safe and good quality, but also part of a wider support system that helps people rebuild their lives.
“The Women in Safe Homes fund is focused on delivering long-term change, and projects like this demonstrate how investment can create both social impact and sustainable housing solutions for those who need them most.”
Juan Du, Investment Director at Patron Capital, said: “Embedding positive social impact into every business decision is fundamental to how we operate at Patron. The Women in Safe Homes fund is a powerful example of how capital can be deployed with purpose, providing safe, secure housing for vulnerable women when they need it most, while setting a benchmark for what socially responsible real estate investment can achieve.”
For more information and interviews, contact communications@resonance.ltd.uk
About Resonance
Resonance is a pioneer of social impact fund management, which has been connecting capital to social enterprise since 2002. We are proud of our 24-year track record of impact investing, and B Corp certification.
We provide life changing homes and solutions for people and communities facing crisis.
Through our social impact residential property funds, we work with institutional investors and expert housing partners to provide safe, affordable homes with appropriate support. Since our first property fund launched in 2013, we have helped to provide homes for almost 4,000 adults and children in 1,393 properties in major cities across the UK.
With people’s homes at the heart of what we do, our Impact Labs team develops the ecosystem around our impact property funds, so we can innovate new solutions, pilot systemic change, increase supply and scale opportunity.
Within Impact Labs, our Growing Enterprises funds focus on enabling social enterprises to grow, reach more people and deepen their impact.
About the Women in Safe Homes fund
The fund is a gender-lens impact investment property fund that was launched in December 2020 to provide safe, good quality and affordable homes across the UK for women escaping domestic abuse and leaving the criminal justice system. It is a joint venture of Resonance and Patron Capital and it works in partnership with a mix of Women’s Sector Organisations (WSOs) and other registered Housing Providers to ensure women have access to the wraparound, trauma-led support they might need in order to start their recoveries and rebuild their lives.
About Cyrenians
Cyrenians’ mission is to tackle the causes and consequences of homelessness through learning from lived experience; by delivering targeted services which focus on prevention, early intervention and support into a home; and by influencing changes in legislation and policy.
It has 49 services all working towards its vision of an inclusive society in which everyone has the opportunity to live valued and fulfilling lives.
About Patron Capital
Patron represents approximately €5.2 billion of capital raised across several funds and related co-investments, investing in property, corporate operating entities whose value is primarily supported by property assets and distressed debt and credit related businesses.
Since it was established in 1999, Patron has undertaken more than 200 transactions across 117 investments and programs involving over 9 million square metres in 17 countries, with many of these investments realised.
Investors represent a variety of sovereign wealth funds, prominent universities, major institutions, private foundations, and high net worth individuals located throughout North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The main investment adviser to the Funds is Patron Capital Advisers LLP, which is based in London, and Patron has other offices across Europe including Barcelona and Luxembourg; the group is comprised of 66 people, including a 42-person investment team.
Further information about Patron Capital is available at www.patroncapital.com
Media Enquiries Patron Capital: Polly Warrack/James Carnegie/Laurence Hill, SEC Newgate UK, t: +44 (0)7827 486224, e: patron@secnewgate.co.uk
