Charity tackles military veterans stereotype as it campaigns for homes

Aveterans charity on a crusade to secure more houses across the north-east is fighting to undo stereotypes as it puts roofs over heads.

Veterans Housing Scotland (VHS) wants to remind people that former forces personnel come in all shapes and sizes – and are not all elderly war heroes.

“It’s just as likely to be a young lad or lady in their twenties,” bosses say.

And these people, often discharged after suffering an injury or mental health issues, can find themselves in need of a home after returning to civilian life.

This is why the organisation is appealing for help from Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City councils to hit its latest target.

The charity currently has around 650 properties throughout Scotland but it is always looking at ways to increase that figure.

Charity chiefs travelled to Aberdeenshire Council’s Woodhill House HQ recently in a bid to add to their north-east property portfolio.

Veterans Housing Scotland has 24 homes in Aberdeen, on Summerhill Terrace and Summerhill Road.

Meanwhile, it is responsible for 23 properties across Aberdeenshire in locations including Huntly and Inverurie.

The homes are provided to veterans who apply as homeless or have specific mental or physical health requirements.

Chief executive Kevin Gray met the head of housing at Aberdeenshire Council for talks.

“The range and complexity of veterans who are approaching VHS in need of support and housing is increasing alarmingly,” he said

Chairman Bob Kemp explained that a veteran today is not what you would typically expect.

He said: “We used to think of a veteran as an old man with lots of medals, walks with a limp, he’s got a stick and lots of wonderful stories to tell.”

Mr Kemp revealed he had met up with 103-year-old John Cruickshank, who holds the Victoria Cross, for lunch before the Aberdeen meeting.

“There is your typical veteran but a veteran today is not like John,” he said.

“It’s just as likely to be a young lad or lady in their twenties who has been discharged from one of the three services because of an injury, either physical or mental.”

And this is where Veterans Housing Scotland comes in.

“We provide accommodation, help and advice to young people who are veterans,” he said.

The charity is six years older than John Cruickshank.

In 1915, a group of Scottish businessmen met to discuss ways in which they could help disabled veterans on their return from war.

Mr Kemp said: “From the overcrowded and squalid urban tenements where many veterans had been born and brought up, and now returned, there was little hope. The country was in turmoil, not well set up to receive those in need.”

The charity, as it is known today, was formed by merging the Scottish Veterans Garden City Association (SVGCA) and Scottish Garden City Housing Society (SGCHS).

Veterans Housing Scotland has its own homes, but it also has two other ways to add properties to its stock.

It uses a shared equity scheme, where initial purchase costs are shared with a third party and the rent is split.

The other way sees the charity persuade councils to give it nomination rights to properties in their areas.

Under this move, Veterans Housing Scotland selects the tenant and the rent goes to the local authority.

MOVING IN: Veterans Housing Scotland chief executive Kevin Gray, right, hands over keys to a beneficiary following his home’s upgrade.

A veteran with his son at the front door of his new home.

Bob Kemp is keen to emphasise that veterans come in a wide age range.