Our new house means peace and enjoyment of life for us - Yaad’s Story

Salix Homes is proud to work with social impact investment company Resonance to provide much-needed housing. Resonance manages investment funds to purchase and refurbish homes for people in often desperate housing situations, working alongside housing partners, such as Salix Homes.

Resonance launched its National Homelessness Property Fund 2 in December 2020 to provide safe and decent homes for people in housing need. They could be people experiencing homelessness and in crisis situations, as well as those stuck on long housing waiting lists – there’s over 6,000 people on the housing waiting list in Salford alone.

Salix Homes is one of Resonance’s three housing association partners who manage the tenancies and provide specialist housing services. Together, we’re helping to tackle the national housing crisis by providing good-quality homes for people often priced out of the private rental market. All rents are set at Local Housing Allowance rates, making them more affordable and accessible for people on low incomes or in receipt of benefits. Homes also include essential touches, likes carpets and blinds, provided by Resonance, helping to make the move-in experience that little bit easier and more dignified.

This is Yaad’s story…

Imagine having to flee for your lives, from the country you and your family were born and raised in, loved dearly, and had worked hard to create a successful business in, due to circumstances beyond your personal control. Not having any choice in the decision, fearing for your lives and having to navigate numerous challenges in your search for safety, freedom and stability.

Just over three years ago, Yaad, his wife and two daughters, then aged eight and six, were faced with circumstances that meant they had to do just this. They fled Iran and made their way to the UK where they were able to find safety and accommodation.

Yaad, now aged 35, explains why he had to leave Iran: “One of the worst years I experienced was having to leave my country, where I used to have a good life, running my own restaurant. Because of my religious conversion, my whole life was taken away from me and destroyed, and now I have to start all over again. Suddenly everything changed, and I knew that I had to flee from there with my family. After three years and with the help of the UK, I was able to bring them here and forget a little of the hardships we had experienced.”

Thankfully, Yaad and his family were referred to Salix Homes, one of Resonance’s National Homelessness Property Fund 2’s (NHPF2) three housing partners in the Northwest. We were able to house Yaad and his family in a two-bedroom home in the Greater Manchester area, closer to his workplace at a supermarket.

Yaad said: “We are in the new house, it is warm, and the garden is safe where my children can play comfortably. Our new house means peace and enjoyment of life for us.

Thinking about his future in the UK with his family, Yaad explained: “I have a big plan for life and I want to try my best to take my children to the stages where they can provide the greatest achievement and contribution to society in the future, and I myself will be a partner in these stages because this new house is safe for us to make dreams come true.

“I do not forget that without the help of all those who helped me in this country, I would not have been able to start this new life. Thank you.”

Sue Sutton, Interim Executive Director of Customer and Landlord Services, added: “Our partnership with Resonance enables us to make a real and lasting difference to people’s lives. Together, we’re not just providing homes, we’re creating the foundations for people to rebuild their lives with dignity and security. At the same time, we’re helping to address the wider housing crisis by making affordable, good quality homes available to those who need them most. Stories like Yaad’s and his family’s serve as a powerful reminder of why this matters.

“We’re incredibly proud of what this partnership has achieved so far, and we’re committed to continuing to work with Resonance to support even more people, both those in immediate crisis and those waiting for housing, into a home where they feel safe, supported and able to look forward to the future.”

Visit the Resonance website to find out more and what they do.