Launch of Women In Safe Homes fund for Nacro BASS partnership with Resonance Ltd

Nacro will be working in partnership with Resonance Ltd – a social impact investment company working with social enterprises and charities – to provide homes to women in London through our Bail Accommodation and Support Service (BASS).
Nacro BASS helps people who are homeless but have been granted bail by the courts or are being released from prison under the early release scheme. Resonance Ltd will also be working with other charity partners across the UK to provide affordable housing for homeless women.

Kay Orlopp, Resonance’s Property Fund Development Manager and lead on the Women in Safe Homes fund, says: “With a chronic lack of suitable and affordable housing in the UK, right now, thousands of women are at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness, especially those who are victims of domestic abuse and those that that have experienced the criminal justice system and are unable to live their lives in safety. The Women in Safe homes fund, launching with joint Fund Manager Patron Capital, will provide a social impact investment housing solution to this gendered housing need, and, working alongside charity partners will deliver safe and affordable homes for vulnerable women who need them most. We are delighted the Fund is launching with a £16 million investment from initial investors Big Society Capital, US based MacArthur Foundation, and Patron’s MD, Keith Breslaur – this will enable us to attract like-minded investors into the fund and help make a real difference to the lives of many women.”

Nahar Choudhury, Head of BASS (Bail Accommodation and Support Service) at Nacro, said: “Too often women leave prison ready to turn their lives around but without the resources and support to be able to do it we are setting them up to fail. Having a safe, secure place to live is the base line of being able to change their lives for the better, enabling them to get a job, rebuild family ties and escape unhealthy relationships. This fund will give us the opportunity to support more women coming out of prison, reduce the risk of reoffending and give them the best chance at a second chance.“