A BARNSLEY charity will open a new five-bedroom ‘safe house’ which will be used to provide immediate accommodation to rough-sleeping military veterans.
Help 4 Homeless Veterans, which was originally set up in Royston, will mark the property’s official opening next Friday which has been hailed as a huge leap forward for the charity’s ability to help.
Renovations and cosmetic work have been completed and it is now ready to house its first cohort of homeless veterans.
The project has seen local businesses come together to help via the ‘Buy a Brick’ campaign which accumulated enough cash needed to buy it outright.
Steve Bentham-Bates, chief executive, said: “Completing this property is a huge milestone for the charity and the scope of support we can offer.
“The property will provide a stepping stone for veterans who are sleeping rough.
“It will also offer support to help residents move on to secure housing, access financial assistance and take practical steps towards stability.
“Since the charity was founded, we have helped more than 1,100 veterans with their housing challenges and having this home as a safe space for veterans will allow us to continue that ongoing support without the need for expensive hotel rooms.
“There is a long history of military connection to the home, which felt serendipitous.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the organisations that have engaged with us to make this possible, including local contractors and the generosity of the general public.”
The work undertaken to transform the house into a safe base for individuals was led by regional procurement specialist, EN:Procure, who will also help oversee its running.
A spokesperson from EN:Procure added: “We have always been impressed by the incredible work Help 4 Homeless Veterans does to protect veterans since we first supported them in 2015.
“When we were approached again to support this project we knew we could provide the professional knowledge and services to get the home ready.
“Several contractors across our frameworks were on hand to turn this house into the space the charity needs.”
Barnsley South MP Dan Jarvis, a former major in the Parachute Regiment, praised the charity’s ethos and told the Chronicle it better support had to be given on a wider scale to those who have served for their country.
“Nobody should be without a home, especially veterans who’ve risked their lives serving our country,” he added.
“It’s time that we recognise our service men and women in a manner that befits their sacrifice and better support them in the transition from military to civilian life.
“I have been working closely to eradicate homelessness and Help 4 Homeless Veterans do vital work supporting our veterans.
“Most service leavers go on to achieve great things in civilian life, using the invaluable experience and transferable skills gained in the military.
“But as someone who had the honour of serving in the armed forces myself, I understand the challenges some people can face when leaving.
“Nobody who served in our armed forces should find themselves without a place to call home and the charity do vitally important work supporting our service community who are homeless and destitute.
“I’m very pleased to see the opening of Help 4 Homeless Veterans’ half-way house.
“It’s a major milestone for the charity and will provide a vital lifeline for veterans who have served our country.
“Thank you to all who made it happen, and to Steve Bentham-Bates for his continued dedication and commitment to supporting veterans.”
