# Social and Sustainable Capital and Garfield Weston Foundation launch fund to expand stepping stone housing

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2026/06/10/social-and-sustainable-capital-and-garfield-weston-foundation-launch-fund-to-expand-stepping-stone-housing/
- Published: 2026-06-10T11:37:02+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Social and Sustainable Capital (SASC) and the Garfield Weston Foundation have 
partnered to launch the Housing Pathways Fund, an impact-first lending vehicle designed
to expand the supply of genuinely affordable “stepping stone accommodation” across
the UK.**

The fund addresses what the partners describe as a critical gap in the housing system:
thousands of people remain in supported or temporary accommodation despite being
ready to live independently, held back by the absence of affordable options for 
moving on.

The Housing Pathways Fund will offer flexible, interest-only secured loans at fixed
rates of around 2% per annum, with terms of 10 to 15 years and up to 100% financing
for acquisition, development or refurbishment of residential properties. Crucially,
the loans are non-recourse for charities and social enterprises, reducing financial
risk for borrowing organisations. Rents in HPF-backed homes will be set below conventional
Affordable Rent levels, allowing tenants time to save for a deposit and build confidence
before moving into longer-term independent housing.

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## Cornerstone investment

The [Garfield Weston Foundation](https://garfieldweston.org) has provided a cornerstone
investment, and the partners are seeking to raise a further £15 to £20 million to
meet demand from charities across the UK.

Since 2017 the social investor SASC has financed 36 supported housing charities,
funded 771 houses, and provided stable homes for more than 3,600 people. In 2025,
85% of tenants in SASC-backed homes made a positive move-on, with 78% of those homes
located in the most deprived areas of the UK.

Over its lifetime, the [Housing Pathways Fund](https://socialandsustainable.com)
aims to deliver more than 150 homes in long-term social use, house around 1,200 
people, and support more than 75% of tenants into independent living.

Bernice Affat, Chief Executive of SASC, said: “Many people are not stuck in supported
housing because they need to be there, but because there is nowhere that is realistically
affordable for them to go.”

## Who will the fund help?

Delivery partners will provide tenancy sustainment and employment support alongside
housing, working with local authorities to facilitate transitions into the private
rented sector or social housing.

The fund is expected to benefit people including young people leaving care, survivors
of domestic abuse, and those facing multiple-needs homelessness.

 * **[Garfield Weston Foundation launches £25 million arts fund](https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/09/21/garfield-weston-foundation-launches-25m-arts-fund/)(
   21 September 2020)
 * **[Weston Charity Awards winners announced for 2025](https://fundraising.co.uk/2025/07/07/weston-charity-awards-winners-announced-for-2025/)(
   7 July 2025)**
 * **[Garfield Weston Foundation report shares learnings on funding application process](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/06/27/garfield-weston-foundation-report-shares-learnings-on-funding-application-process/)(
   27 June 2019)**