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Help for West Midlands ex-service personnel

September 16 2011
 Forces charities expand their schemes to cope with increased demand

 

Someone might lose their home because of relationship breakdown, personal tragedy, becoming unemployed, running into debt or it leaving the Armed Forces.

However, under Section 189 of the Housing Act 1996, homeless persons have a priority need for re-housing if they are vulnerable as a result of "having been a member of Her Majesty’s regular naval, military or air forces", and their local council will help them find permanent accommodation.

A survey last year by Homeless Link suggested that whilst homelessness among veterans is not high, it is widespread; approximately half the day centres in England reported that they support veterans. Ex-service personnel face a high risk of rough sleeping, though for relatively short periods - fewer were recorded using “second stage” accommodation. It is encouraging that homelessness amongst veterans is quickly resolved, but why does it occur in the first place?

Veterans may be more vulnerable to homelessness because of the nature of their work. Problems may occur when trying to readjust to ‘normal life’ after temporary postings around the world. Being reunited with family, trying to secure stable housing or claiming relevant benefits can be particularly difficult for single individuals who haven’t got a strong support network. Some may be unprepared. As one participant in a University of York survey said, “I just packed it in and that was it - I hoped for the best.”

Veterans have similar characteristics to the wider homeless population; however, a greater proportion has alcohol and physical and/or mental health problems. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is much higher among those who have served in the armed forces. Individuals suffering PTSD are in a state of anxiety following a traumatic event, often one involving a risk to their own life or a colleague’s. Symptoms including ‘reliving’ the event, avoidance behaviour, hyper-vigilance and emotional numbing. It affects only a minority, but it is becoming increasingly common.

PTSD can prevent someone from finding employment and supported housing, and can lead to ineffective coping mechanisms such as substance misuse. Some service users interviewed by the University of York attributed their mental health problems to their time in service, but a greater number referred to problems in childhood or to trauma after leaving the forces.

Combat Stress, the UK’s leading military charity, has reported a 72 per cent increase in the number of people needing their help since 2005, and it currently receives over 1,000 new referrals each year. In response to this, Combat Stress aims to establish a nationwide community outreach programme and to develop clinical treatment at three short-stay centres, including one based in Shropshire.

The Royal British Legion (RBL) provides welfare services to serving and former personnel and their dependents, campaigns on a range of issues affecting service people and is custodian of Remembrance Day.

Thirty-one-year-old Mark Morgan was a private in The Royal Regiment of Wales for four and a half years; he served in Bosnia and Northern Ireland and, at the age of 18, witnessed the Omagh bombing. He received a sentence for a fight he was involved in while posted in Germany. After being discharged, he returned to the UK, became homeless and slept rough.

The local authorities initially provided him with accommodation in B&Bs and the YMCA; but after an altercation with a fellow resident, he left of his own accord, meaning he no longer qualified for local authority accommodation. Alan Merry at the Legion was able to persuade the council that Morgan’s case should be reconsidered as he was showing clear signs of PTSD and drinking heavily because of it. The PTSD was most certainly as a result of an accident in Bosnia that, in turn, triggered flashbacks to his time in Northern Ireland.

RBL’s intervention since 2009 has helped Morgan to make positive changes to his life. The council housed him and, in early 2010, the Legion helped him with housing, re-settlement after his prison term, referral to Combat Stress for PTSD, second-hand furniture and white goods. He also received some financial advice.”

RBL and the Ministry of Defence are a state-of-the-art facility in the West Midlands for wounded, injured and sick service personnel. It is expected to open this autumn and aims to be fully operational from spring 2012.

*   Contact LegionLine (08457 725 725) for advice on all the RBL's activities and information on issues such as counselling, job retraining, welfare grants and career advice.

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