Preventing Homelessness for Veterans

FirstLight Truist has seen a steady increase in enquiries over the last 6 months from veterans of the Emergency Services and Armed Forces asking for assistance with housing.  Around 90% of these enquiries concern those whose relationship have broken, who are unable to meet the rent, have fallen foul of the cost of living crisis, and who are desperate to find or keep their place within their local community.

This is one such story:  

Veteran F first contacted FirstLight Trust after finding the charity advertised online during COVID: his health was deteriorating and he was unsure of what support was available to them.

Declining mobility was causing a similar decline in their mental wellbeing and creating a strain in their relationship with family and friends.

Support was immediately put in place through a referral to occupational health for a full assessment so that they could continue living in their own home, with adaptions in place to assist with their daily living needs.  Without this referral and support the outcome could have resulted in them having to find another home putting them under financial strain as both parties are retired and out of the housing application criteria.  This would have resulted in them becoming homeless and having to look for accommodation in the private housing sector.

An application was also made for the correct eligible benefit of attendance allowance;  this with their Pension payments enabled them to pay towards extra healthcare and travel costs.  Form filling such as this is complex as a number of factors including length of service, needs, have to be taken into account.  With the assistance of the FirstLight Trust support co-ordinator the application was successful; this in turn enabled Veteran F to apply for a Blue Badge so that they could access closer parking for clinical appointments, as well as enabling them to access the coast they live by (a favourite pastime and one that they thought they would be unable to achieve due to declining mobility).

Veteran F continues to use the Hub and has asked for further assistance with the renewel application of his benefits.

Veteran F stated “I asked again for support and was reassured that this was okay! I have faith in FirstLight Trust as they are professional and welcoming and know I am a person rather than a statistic.” 

Please help us put a face to the support you give us, by providing face to face support to those who so desperately need it.  Your donations really help make a difference.  And if you are wondering if they really do, please do come and visit us at one of our cafe hubs in Gosport, Hereford, Hawick, Falkirk and soon in London - and see for yourself!