Preventing Homelessness for Veterans

A home is a basic need. The cause of homelessness is often “invisible” with many veterans becoming homeless due to debt, relationship breakdowns, unemployment, ill-health or lack of affordable housing. The preventative work we do around these issues is effective and long-term - from providing emergency B&B accommodation whilst we find something suitable to sourcing a new long-term home.

Homelessness is a very emotive word, and veterans who come to us are often proud, and have ‘made do’ in situations and conditions most of us would consider unacceptable. This is XY’s story.

XY is an 85-year old army veteran who served for 6 years in National Service. When he came to FirstLight Trust he was living alone in a caravan in a field, having nursed his long-term partner through dementia until her death in a nursing home. XY is practical, has worked on many successful jobs throughout his career including working on overseas projects for 9 months at a time, and is fiercely independent – one of the last to ask for or seek any form of support.

Finding the correct housing is important for long-term success, so it was very appropriate that XY’s housing came in the form of an Alabare self-build project which resulted in XY, along with 5 other veterans, moving into their own houses in Christmas 2020. XY then proceeded to fix curtain poles, shelves, tables, laid carpets – not only for himself but for his neighbours. XY is slowly finding his feet and his place in the community. Being so independent and self-sufficient can be lonely and isolating, and ‘keeping busy’ can often be a solitary activity; so our support has come with social activities, support around wellbeing, and reconnecting with family and the wider community.

And that support will continue as long for as long as it is needed. Please consider donating to this project so that FirstLight Trust can support more veterans like XY.