The first gender-lens property fund to support women at risk of homelessness has been launched, aiming to raise £100m.
The Women In Safe Homes (WISH) Fund will provide 750 affordable homes across the UK for women who are experiencing homelessness, are ex-offenders, survivors of domestic abuse or have other complex needs.
The social impact fund is a collaboration between property investor Patron Capital and social impact investment company Resonance.
It will also provide access to support networks by partnering with women’s sector charities, the first of which will with Preston Road Women’s Centre in Hull.
Simon Chisholm, Resonance’s chief investment officer, said: ‘The commitment from Big Society Capital will enable us to attract like-minded investors into the Fund so that we can purchase homes for women at risk of or experiencing homelessness and help make a real difference to their lives.’
Anna Shiel, head of origination at Big Society Capital, said: ‘Our decision to approach part of our housing work with a gender lens came after we engaged with the sector. It became clear that women are often part of the hidden homelessness, and there are strong links to domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women and girls.’
