New housing service for disabled veterans

Age Scotland has welcomed the establishment of a pioneering new service which aims to help disabled ex-service personnel in Scotland navigate their way through the complexities of finding suitable housing to meet their unique needs.
Scottish housing charity Housing Options Scotland (formerly Ownership Options in Scotland) is to provide the service to both current and ex-service personnel of all ages. A newly appointed specialist housing broker will provide free and independent specialist housing knowledge and peer-to-peer support to ex-service personnel whose disabilities mean they have highly-complex housing needs, and will assist them in finding the right home in the tenure and location of their choice.
Age Scotland Policy Officer Greg McCracken said: "It is understood the challenges which many ex-service personnel experience, for example being at greater risk of homelessness, alcoholism and relationship breakdowns than the general population. This new resource will be a vital source of support, and we particularly welcome that it is open to ex-service personnel irrespective of their age."
Ex-service personnel can be reluctant to approach mainstream organisations for advice, particularly out of a concern they won't meet their needs. Recognising this, Housing Options Scotland recruited former RAF Officer, Claire Birch (picture), who has direct and personal knowledge and experience of disabled veterans' particular challenges.
Claire said: "We owe so much to those service personnel who are injured in the line of duty, no matter what form that injury takes, be it physical or mental. By assisting such individuals into supportive, affordable housing, we can repay some of our debt by helping them and their families live more stable and productive lives."
To find out more information visit the Housing Options Scotland website.