Kevin Gray MM.

VHS is an Edinburgh-based charity which helps disabled veterans across Scotland by providing affordable rented homes and a wraparound Tenancy Sustainment Service.

VHS will lead a creative partnership with the Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) to greatly benefit the veteran community in Scotland by providing comprehensive and coordinated support services that address homelessness, tenancy sustainment and medical welfare needs. The project will also utilise referral pathways through Op FORTITUDE, a dedicated service which was launched on 4 July 2023 to help combat veterans’ homelessness.

VHS will partner with the Defence Medical Welfare Service to provide enhanced support through grant funding of £907,071 over two years.

Kevin Gray MM, chief executive of Veterans Housing Scotland, said: “We are very grateful for this wonderful support from the Office of Veterans Affairs (OVA). Our initiative will provide adaptable, comprehensive, and coordinated support services for vulnerable Veterans across a range of support needs. The support will enable Veterans to remain in safe housing by addressing issues affecting their tenancies, including medical welfare needs and non-clinical issues. Our collaborative approach will reduce homelessness through increased housing stability, and improved wellbeing for Veterans in Scotland, allowing them to transition to lower-level support.

“The focus of our programme will be to provide comprehensive support to disabled Veterans in Scotland to sustain their tenancies, reduce the risk of homelessness, and ultimately improve their quality of life.

‘”Dedicated VHS Visiting Officers and DMWS Welfare Officers will work together to identify and support Veterans who are on challenging and potentially chaotic housing journeys.”

DMWS chief executive Paul Gaffney added: “No veteran should be left unsupported and without a home. DMWS welcomes this fantastic opportunity to bring focused welfare support to veterans who can be struggling with many aspects alongside their housing concerns. Working in collaboration allows us to bring together expertise and greater support that can bring huge improvements in mental and physical wellbeing as well as improved living conditions for veterans in Scotland.”

Minister for veterans’ affairs, Rt Hon. Johnny Mercer MP, said: “Everyone deserves a place they can call home, not least those who have served their country. Today’s launch is a huge milestone in ending veteran homelessness and a clear demonstration of this government delivering on its promises.

“There is a lot of great work being done across the country to help veterans get the right level of support. Op FORTITUDE is about bringing all of this together, so any veteran has a clear pathway to get local and customised care.”