Organisation

Doncaster Housing for Young People (DHYP) exists to give 16–25-year-olds a safe place to call home. For young people facing homelessness or instability, DHYP provides not just accommodation, but the skills, confidence, and opportunities to build a brighter future.

DHYP’s long-term vision is that all young people have a place to call home and can fulfil their hopes and ambitions.

How social investment transformed their work

With support from Homeless Link, DHYP began a journey to diversify income and grow the impact of the organisation. Through programmes such as the Enterprise Development Programme, the Reach Fund, and the Homeless Link Social Investment Fund, the organisation was supported with both funding and strategic guidance to strengthen operations.

Working with a consultant funded through the Reach Fund, DHYP developed robust business plans, improved financial forecasting, and enhanced the organisation’s risk management. All the essential steps that paved the way for future success.

DHYP’s first major milestone came in 2020, when DHYP took on social investment for the very first time using the Homeless Link Social Investment Fund to purchase a property. This house became a lifeline for young people in Doncaster, a place where they could rebuild their lives, access support, and take steps toward independence.

This initial investment didn’t just provide bricks and mortar. DHYP gained confidence, expertise, and a new mindset about what was possible. The social investment strengthened DHYP’s homelessness prevention work, helped young people move into employment, volunteering and reduced social isolation. The experience also transformed the organisation internally, giving staff and trustees the confidence and expertise to take on more ambitious projects.

“While the loan helped us financially, it was the experience of the process itself that truly transformed our organisation.” Stuart Shore, Former CEO

Encouraged by this success, DHYP went on to secure further social investment from the Postcode Innovation Trust (People’s Postcode Lottery) to purchase further two properties, expanding support to even more vulnerable young people in Doncaster.

Why social investment

Social investment offered DHYP something traditional grants could not, a flexible and sustainable way to scale their impact. It allowed DHYP to grow strategically, strengthen the organisation’s financial position, and invest in long-term solutions rather than short term fixes.

With the backing of a committed Board, in particular the Treasurer, who has practical expertise in housing and property renovation along with the buy-in from the staff team, DHYP embraced this approach wholeheartedly. The combination of internal expertise and external guidance proved invaluable for them in navigating the process successfully.

What is Blended Finance

The Homeless Link Social Investment Fund was a blended finance model.

Blended finance is a package of funding that is a mixture of investment that needs to be repaid and a grant that doesn’t need to be repaid

Real impact

Using social investment, in 2024 DHYP provided 14 young people with supported housing and, with achieved the following powerful outcomes:

  • Prevented homelessness for vulnerable young people
  • Reduced isolation through community and peer support
  • Helped young people achieve aspirations through education, training, and employment
  • Provided safe and stable housing to those most in need

DHYP are a self-reflective organisation. The staff self-reflective scores consistently score 8 out of 10 in resilience, financial self-reliance, and social impact assessments.

Repaying the investment

From Homeless Link Social Investment Fund, DHYP received a loan of £67,200 and a grant of £16,800 to refurbish a house to bring it up to social housing specification requirements.

The loan repayment agreement was over 42 months which was repaid through income from local authority funded programmes, housing related income, fundraising efforts and organisation reserves. More importantly, the process strengthened DHYP’s financial discipline and long-term planning, making the organisation more confident and self-reliant than ever before.

Lessons Learned and Advice for Others from DHYP/Words of wisdom for others

“Start with a clear understanding and theory of change. Be honest about your capacity and seek guidance if required. Social investment is not just about money, it's about strengthening your organisation, improving governance, and creating measurable impact. Be prepared for the learning curve. It’s challenging, but it’s a worthwhile journey for your organisation to take” -Michelle Beck, CEO -