Rethinking Supported Living: When the Numbers Don’t Stack Up

Not every housing model fits neatly into financial spreadsheets. Some of the most needed homes — those requiring overnight care or specialist adaptations — are also the hardest to fund. For many developers, the numbers simply don’t stack up. At Goldfinch, we’ve faced this dilemma head-on. It’s why we’ve committed to finding new pathways, working with private investors and partners who believe that creating safe homes is worth the effort, even when traditional finance says otherwise.

The housing market often rewards density. High-yield HMO studios stack up easily, with relatively low risk and straightforward valuations. But what about the family homes needed for children in care with high interest rates and planning hurdles?

These projects are essential. They provide dignity, stability, and care. Yet in financial terms, they can be punishing. Mortgage rates climb into double figures, with hefty product fees. Planning permissions for specialist care homes are complicated and unpredictable. And when it comes to valuation, the numbers often don’t reflect the true cost or value of the property, leaving developers stuck between mission and margin.

For many, the conclusion is simple: it can’t be done. But we believe otherwise. The answer lies in partnership — private investors willing to accept steady, asset-backed returns rather than chasing the highest possible yield, and organisations ready to share risk in pursuit of long-term outcomes.

At the start of 2025, we made a decision: we will find a way. Through Goldfinch, we are working with like-minded investors and partners to prove that homes with care at their core can be viable, even when traditional finance says otherwise.

This is the work of Goldfinch: bridging the gap between what is financially possible and what is socially necessary. If you share our belief that every person deserves a home that restores dignity, partner with us to make these projects viable.