Veteran Housing Scotland

“Ten years’ service and two operational tours began to take its toll on my mental health and around the start of 2021 I began to think that something was wrong.”

John Tonner is a Visiting Officer with Veteran Housing Scotland (VHS), which is delivering a programme of significant refurbishment to improve and extend affordable housing options for veterans with disabilities. He shares his own story of how the charity helped him when he was most in need. 

“My cry for help came in the summer of 2021. I felt that I had no one to turn to. 

“After months of reviews and treatment I was diagnosed with PTSD and told that I was being recommended for a medical board review. All I had ever wanted to do was be in in the armed forces. 

“On the day of my medical board I learned that I was being medically discharged. I didn’t know what I was going to do or where I was going to live.” 

This major cash injection will allow VHS to deliver a significant refurbishment programme to improve and extend 52 properties within their portfolio. The organisation estimates 59 veterans and 65 family members will benefit, not just from the housing itself but also the wraparound support that comes alongside.

Some veterans use VHS housing as a short-term measure post transition or later in their journey, while they improve their circumstances and go into mainstream housing. Others stay for longer periods, including end of life. 

RAF veteran Alex Bell moved into his VHS home in 1996. “I love my home, I love where it is and I am grateful for the opportunity the charity has given me and my family.” 

Kevin Grey, Chief Executive at VHS explains: “It is one of the founding principles of the charity that rents were to be kept as low as possible to allow veterans to devote more of their money to securing employment to help secure a better and brighter future. 

John’s story highlights all areas of the work of VHS and how in many respects we remain committed to our founding principles.

“The fantastic support we’ve received has allowed us to carry out significant repairs and refurbishments to properties in seven locations. Just one example of that is [in the] picturesque town of Pitlochry. Now we are carrying out significant repairs to the roof.”