Salisbury-based national veterans’ charity Alabaré welcomes today’s announcement by the Government of £8.55m of funding to help end veteran homelessness.
Alabaré is proud to have been providing their dedicated Homes for Veterans accommodation and support for UK veterans who have found themselves struggling and facing homelessness in their civilian lives since 2009.
The charity’s nineteen homes across England and Wales and accompanying support services have all been dependent on charitable donations from other charities and individuals in order to run. Alabaré have two Homes for Veterans in Wiltshire.
In today’s announcement, the Minister of Veterans Affairs, Johnny Mercer, has said that he and the Government are committed to working with charity partners to ensure that no veteran is homeless this Christmas and to end veteran homelessness for good in 2023. The £8.55m announced today will ensure that services and support for veterans can be delivered through 900-bed spaces of accommodation, which will include health, education and employment opportunities.
Andrew Lord, Chief Executive at Alabaré, says:
“We are delighted that the Government is taking the issue of veteran homelessness seriously and giving a commitment to ensuring vital support is available for those who have served our country in their hour of need.
“At Alabaré, we have been supporting veterans through our bespoke Homes for Veterans programme for over 13 years. Every day we see the difference that having support from people who understand the difficulties faced by veterans makes to our ex-Armed Forces residents. I hope that this funding means that in the future, no veteran ever has to face the trauma of being homeless but always has the support they need. Collectively we can end veteran homelessness for good.”
Rhys is in his mid-thirties and is a Royal Navy veteran who found himself homeless. Rhys was sofa-surfing until he came into Alabaré’s South Wales Homes for Veterans. Since then, Rhys has benefitted from the support of the Alabaré Homes for Veterans team, as well as taking part in various activities run by Alabaré and their Boots on the Ground programme aimed at helping veterans rebuild their confidence and successfully become part of the community once more.
Rhys says:
“Today’s news is so good to hear, and it means so much. The Alabaré charity basically saved my life, I had nowhere to go, and I was so low. They basically picked me up and got me back on my feet, so I’d like to see my story happen to others around the UK.”
The new money announced today will also allow for the establishment of a new referral scheme - Op FORTITUDE - that will enable veterans at risk of homelessness to access supported housing and wrap-around specialist care in health, housing and education. Working with charities, the funding will ensure a single central point for local authorities and charities to identify those in need and refer them to a network of support.
Over the Christmas period, Alabaré and other veterans’ charities have come together to provide a dedicated phone line for veterans who find themselves in need of emergency housing. Any veteran can call SPACES on 01748 833797 (8am-8pm).
Latest estimates indicate that between 100 and 400 veterans sleep rough every year, and a further 3,000 to 4,000 face homelessness in cars or derelict buildings – something that no veteran or civilian should experience.*
*source Riverside.org.uk
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