Paul Hillard

The organisation – formerly known as Irvine Housing Association – is allocating more than 10% of its new homes to support veteran households over the next year.

The commitment follows a recent Riverside Scotland-commissioned poll, conducted by Survation, which found that 85% of Scottish people said they were concerned or very concerned about military veterans sleeping rough. Almost half (46%) of Scottish people surveyed were very concerned and almost two fifths (39%) were concerned.

The organisation has started work on the second phase of its Tarryholme development in Irvine where 77 new homes are being built following a successful phase 1 development of 87 homes completed in 2019.

Within phase 2, up to ten homes will be allocated to veteran households who are in housing need through a partnership agreement between Riverside Scotland and Veteran’s First Point Ayrshire.

At Riverside Scotland’s second major development– the country’s largest affordable modular housing development – in Dundonald, South Ayrshire, 11% (7) of the 63 homes are being allocated specifically to veteran households.

These homes across both developments will specifically address the housing needs of vulnerable households who are at risk of homelessness upon discharge from the Forces, or who require dedicated support to assist with resettlement.

All properties on the developments will be built to Housing for Varying Needs Standards, to ensure that they remain flexible and adaptable to meet the changing needs of households over time.

This level of provision exceeds the level of capacity provided for veterans in most other housing developments, relative to the size of the build.

Riverside Scotland is part of The Riverside Group and housing led support for veterans’ continues to be a key strategic objective within of the organisation

Since its telephone housing advice service, SPACES, was established in 2000, The Riverside Group has helped over 15,000 homeless ex-servicemen and women.

Paul Hillard, Riverside Scotland managing director, said: “Everyone deserves the opportunity to live in a good quality home and through these developments we are helping ensure that there is provision for those who have served our country and who now need our help in return.

“We want to help eradicate veterans’ homelessness, which we know is something that really matters to the people of Scotland. We’re proud to be playing our part through these developments but much work still needs to be done at a national and local level to make sure that no military veteran is left without a home.”