New Salisbury home gives homeless veterans 'opportunity, safety and security'

A new accommodation project in Salisbury is giving homeless veterans a chance to rebuild their lives, with one former serviceman describing his new home as an opportunity for a fresh start.

Steve Coombs, 66, was living in a tent in woodland for several months after becoming homeless following the breakdown of a relationship.

He has now become one of the first residents at a new veterans' house run by Alabaré in Salisbury.

Mr Coombs said he was "very lucky" to have been offered accommodation and described his new home as providing "opportunity, safety and security".

He said that when he first moved in earlier this month, he was exhausted and struggling after spending months without a permanent home.

"The staff here were so kind," he said, describing the experience as emotional.

The new property is Alabaré's third veterans' house in Salisbury and increases the charity's accommodation capacity in the city from 11 to 18 beds.

The charity provides transitional accommodation alongside practical support, with residents typically staying for between six months and two years while they work towards independent living.

Mike Bedford, Alabaré's veteran service manager, said the organisation's aim was to "enable and empower" veterans to move on to their own accommodation.

He said the charity also planned to open another six-bedroom veterans' house in Devizes later this year.

If the project opens as planned, Alabaré will have 24 veterans' bed spaces across Wiltshire.

The expansion comes amid renewed national attention on homelessness and rough sleeping.

The government has announced a £442 million package that includes emergency accommodation and practical support for people facing homelessness.

Alabaré said additional accommodation could help veterans move from homelessness into temporary housing and eventually into permanent homes of their own.

Mr Bedford also welcomed discussion around making greater use of unused military accommodation for homeless veterans, but said housing alone would not necessarily be enough.

He explained that some veterans arriving at the charity's accommodation require significant support with physical and mental health needs.

He said any use of former military accommodation would therefore need to include appropriate wraparound support.

For veterans who have experienced homelessness, the new Salisbury accommodation is intended to provide more than simply a roof over their heads. The longer-term goal is to help residents regain stability, develop independence and eventually move into permanent accommodation.