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Families to be helped out of temporary housing

Resonance A photograph of the outside of a row of houses. They are made mostly of brick with also some white wood facias and modern double-glazed windowsResonance
More than 300 households in Gloucestershire live in temporary accommodation

Millions of pounds are to be spent on helping families move out of temporary accommodation in Gloucestershire.

Gloucestershire Pension Fund has invested £30m into a national homelessness property fund, which will be used to buy and refurbish around 90 homes.

The National Homelessness Property Fund is run by social impact investors Resonance, who want to help people who "don't have a place to call home."

The fund works by getting money from investors to buy properties, refurbish them and lease them to charities and housing associations.

Resonance Photo of Chris Cullen - Head of Homelessness Property Funds at Resonance. He is smiling at the camera. He is wearing a light blue shirt and has short dark hairResonance
Mr Cullen said the fund would provide help for people who "don't have a place to call home"

Chris Cullen, head of homelessness property funds at Resonance, said the new investment in Gloucestershire would help provide "much-needed homes" for people in temporary accommodation.

He said families in "unsuitable" temporary accommodation may have children who are far from where they are attending school.

"It's also much harder to get a job as you might not have a permanent address to put on your employment application," he said.

The homes will be leased from the fund by the charity Developing Health and Independence (DHI) which will also offer tenants support with their health, wellbeing, employment searches and training.

Resonance Photo of Rosie Phillips - CEO of Developing Health and Independence. She is looking at the camera, and is wearing a blue top, dark framed glasses and has blonde hairResonance
Rosie Phillips said lack of affordable housing is causing "stress, inequality and poor health"

Rosie Phillips, CEO at DHI, said: "Housing is the single biggest cost pressure on struggling individuals and families and lack of affordable housing causes stress, inequality and poor health.

"Without a secure place to live, progress in other aspects of life will be poor. A safe place to call home provides people with a platform on which to build their lives."

As of March 2024, there were 315 households living in temporary accommodation in Gloucestershire, including nearly 200 in Gloucester City alone.

It is hoped this new investment will provide homes for up to 750 individuals and families.

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