Leading South West-based charity, ALABARÉ, is growing its provision to support homeless veterans by opening a new 7-bed property in Salisbury city centre.
The property has been officially opened during a ceremony this week (Wednesday 26 July), with the Mayor of Salisbury, Cllr Jenny Bolwell, cutting the ribbon and a blessing from ALABARÉ’s Senior Chaplain and Head of Wellbeing and Inclusion, Revd. Gill Turner-Callis.
The latest opening means the charity now has 18 Homes for Veterans across the region and throughout Wales, including three in Salisbury.
The homes collectively provide over 90 bedspaces for former military personnel at risk of homelessness and in need of support, with demand for services rising.
Unique support from ALABARÉ Homes for Veterans
The charity’s mission is to break the cycle of homelessness by providing homes, restoring hearts, and empowering minds.
Homes for Veterans are about more than shelter; they also support clients to improve their mental and physical wellbeing, build practical life skills, improve training prospects, and move towards employability.
ALABARÉ prides itself on offering trauma-informed and person-centred support to veterans, recognising the individual and often complex needs of each client to find a positive pathway to independence.
Many of the ALABARÉ team who support veterans have served in the military too, bringing a unique empathy and understanding which proves useful in building trust, engagement and connection with veterans.
Why Homes for Veterans are important
There are currently around 382,000 people facing homelessness in England, including thousands living in temporary accommodation, sofa surfing with friends and family, or sleeping rough in doorways, car parks and vehicles.
In August, ALABARÉ reported a 21% increase in demand for its services and a 2% rise in the support needed for people who are ex-military.
Government statistics suggest there are around 6,000 veterans at risk of homelessness, which equates to one in every 400 people who have served the country.
Most veterans that ALABARÉ supports stay with the charity for just over a year, while the typical stay for people in other forms of transitional housing can range between 6 months and 2 years.
Ian McLoughlin was the first new resident into the new home in Salisbury, having become homeless following a relationship breakdown.
He says that just two weeks in, the space already feels like home:
“I had a breakdown in my marriage and overnight became homeless. A place in a home like this is totally invaluable; otherwise I’d have been on the streets.
“It’s enabled me to have a roof over my head, take my foot off the pedal and then to plan and move forward with my life.”
ALABARÉ increasing support for homeless veterans in the South West
The new veterans’ property in Salisbury comes as the charity is adding a further two Homes for Veterans in Devizes and Gloucester.
This will mean ALABARÉ is currently able to house 106 veterans experiencing homelessness across the South West and Wales.
These new Homes for Veterans come at a vital time. Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently committed to bringing every rough sleeper off the street by Christmas and reinforces ALABARÉ’s position as a VALOUR-recognised centre for the South West.
VALOUR is a nationwide Government programme that provides a network of housing, health and employment support for veterans.
Naomi Webb, Director of Operations at ALABARÉ, said:
“We’re delighted to be increasing our capacity within the Homes for Veterans service across the South West. There’s a clear need for this kind of support, with referrals consistently coming in to us. Anything we can do to ensure no veteran is left behind is also a hugely important step towards the Prime Minister’s pledges to reduce rough sleeping and homelessness across the country.
“The facilities within the new houses are fantastic and will be a vital stepping stone for veterans who need immediate and sometimes complex support, towards restoring their independence and into safe, secure and positive futures.”
