Date: Tuesday August 20, 2019 at 1:32pm
500 vulnerable Veterans find long-term social housing thanks to
Veterans’ Nomination Scheme
A scheme run by the
UK’s leading provider of supported housing for Veterans, Stoll, has now secured
long-term social housing for over 500 ex-Servicemen and women through its high
impact Veterans’ Nomination Scheme.
Veterans who find
it difficult to adjust to civilian life can end up homeless or in unstable or
temporary accommodation. Many have low support needs and are ready and able to
live independently, but struggle to find affordable accommodation.
The Veterans’
Nomination Scheme (VNS) was set up by Stoll, in partnership with the Royal
British Legion, to find stable and affordable homes for Veterans. Stoll secures
properties from over 90 housing associations and Local Authorities across the UK
and matches them with ex-Servicemen and women in need of a home. The VNS has
now resettled 510 Veterans in long-term tenancies within their community and
boasts a tenancy success rate of 95 per cent.
With demand for
homes far exceeding supply, Stoll is calling on more housing providers to join
the scheme. To sign up to the VNS, please phone 020 7381 8652 or
email julian.coates@stoll.org.uk.
Julian Coates, VNS
Project Manager at Stoll, said: “The VNS is making a considerable impact on
homelessness and it feels great to have found homes for more than 500
vulnerable Veterans who fought for our country. But we have a long waiting list
of Veterans and are always in need of more Housing Associations and Local
Authorities to sign up. London is the area of highest unmet demand, where we
have about five homeless Veterans chasing each property that becomes
available.”
The Royal British
Legion has supported the VNS for many years. Steve Baynes, Head of
Grants and Social Policy at The Royal British Legion, said: “Securing
access to housing that is both suitable and sustainable is a difficult task for
a significant number of people who are eligible for the Legion’s help. We are
pleased that the Veterans’ Nomination Scheme has been able to provide housing
for more than 500 veterans, giving them and their families the stability they
need to make the most of their lives after leaving the armed forces. Our
contribution to this project is one of a number of grants to other
organisations that highlights the Legion’s commitment to providing lifelong
support for the Armed Forces Community.”
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Josh Crooks,
Veteran and VNS beneficiary, said: “I Served with the Corps of Royal Engineers
for seven years before I was medically discharged. When my private
accommodation fell through, I wound up living in a caravan in Clapton-on-Sea.
Within six weeks of first applying to Stoll’s Veterans’ Nomination Scheme, I
had the keys to my flat and I even have a garden for my rescue dog Mowgli.
Stoll sorted me out when I was in dire straits. I’m looking ahead to the future
and I’m excited to see what it holds.”
Progress Housing
Group, one of the UK’s leading supported living providers with nearly 11,000
homes, has been actively supporting the Veterans’ Nomination Scheme for a
number of years. Stephen Spencer, Progress Housing Group’s Head of
Customer Service, said: “We’re really proud to be part of the Veterans’
Nomination Scheme, helping Veterans who may otherwise be homeless to move into
quality, affordable homes. Stoll helps to make the process as smooth as
possible by assessing the candidates for initial suitability and, if they’re
matched, they then come to us for the usual pre-tenancy checks. We urge other
housing providers to do their bit.”