The Women in Safe Homes (WISH) programme provides temporary accommodation for women with a history of street sleeping and who may need accommodation because of fleeing or surviving domestic abuse.
WISH accommodation aims to keep residents safe and supported through an in-reach, wrap around & multi-agency support package. Women will be assisted to regain their independence, to re-join their communities and to develop the necessary skills to live in freedom from fear.
This service offers holistic advice, signposting, and support to vulnerable Women with a wide range of needs, utilising an asset-based/case management approach where people are assessed in terms of their strengths or assets and supported to increase their
independence and resilience through the provision of a bespoke move on and support plan.
Women will be supported by the service to secure permanent accommodation. Support will take place in their homes.
Eligibility
This service supports women rough sleepers, or those with a history of rough sleeping currently in emergency accommodation (or where there is no further need from this group due to reductions in rough sleeping), as well as helping those at risk of rough sleeping and homelessness.
Applicants must have the goal of being able to manage their own tenancy and have maintained stable accommodation in either temporary or supported accommodation for a minimum period of 3 months.
Applicants must: Single women aged 18 or above with recourse to public funds.
How to refer somebody
Referral Pathway – Local Authority RSAP programme and MASH. Self-referrals to the service will not be accepted.
Tenure – Protected Licences
Available accommodation
Shared Houses are available, with individuals having their own space available to them. There are shared kitchens, bathrooms, and lounge facilities.
What is Women in Safe Home’s (WISH)?
The WISH fund is one of the world’s first gender-informed-lens property impact investment funds. The Fund was launched by Resonance as a solution to the lack of affordable, safe and secure homes across the UK for women who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. WISH is an established fund and already has over £20m committed by other parties. They are already deploying capital and acquiring homes. Resonance is a well-established social impact fund manager, has a strong presence in Manchester and GM, and manages c1,000 properties nationally.
The WISH fund operates through investing in property (primarily residential property of various types) and leasing these properties to partners, including women’s organisations, charities, and housing associations.
In partnership with the Rough Sleeper Accommodation Programme (RSAP)
The Rough Sleeper Accommodation Programme (RSAP) is a Department of Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC) funded initiative to provide Move-On homes, available as long-term assets, and accompanying support services to people with a history of rough sleeping.
Through RSAP, properties are let as direct lets to people who are rough sleeping, who have a history of rough sleeping or are at risk of rough sleeping. Once in a property an individual receives ongoing in-reach support for a period of 2-3 years, at which point it is expected that they will move on into a longer-term tenancy (in the private rented sector or a social let).
As well as providing people with their own furnished space and ‘own front door’, the scheme offers the opportunity to trial a tenancy whilst retaining some support.