Focus On: Armed Forces Charities' Housing Provision

Abstract: Housing provision refers to the provision of accommodation, and other relevant support services, which help members of the armed forces community to secure and maintain suitable housing. Having a home is a fundamental part of a successful transition to civilian life. After all, without stable accommodation, it can be extremely difficult to secure a job, stay healthy, maintain relationships or even carry out practical everyday tasks like opening a bank account. As evidenced by previous research, the vast majority of Service leavers transition smoothly to civilian life and secure appropriate housing (Bevan, M. et al., 2018). However, for those who approach forces charities for help, there is a huge variety of support available to suit all levels of housing need. Forces charities offer a diverse range of housing services, which range from help with housing applications to long-term family homes and hostel beds for homeless exService personnel. The purpose of this report is to hold an objective mirror to the armed forces charity sector and for the first time, provide a comprehensive account of the housing provision they offer. To fulfil this remit, DSC devised the following research questions:
- How many forces charities deliver housing support and how many beneficiaries do they support?
- What types of housing services are delivered by forces charities?
- What examples of best practice, collaboration and evaluation exist?