A new 12-month pilot project has been launched at Catterick Garrison to support Armed Forces personnel and their families as they transition into civilian housing, with the aim of preventing homelessness and improving long-term outcomes.
Funded by a £30,000 grant from the Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT), the initiative will embed a specialist housing adviser on-site at Catterick – the UK’s largest military garrison – to offer face-to-face advice and tailored support to those preparing to leave the Armed Forces.
The pilot is being delivered by the Armed Forces Outreach Service (AFOS), a partnership led by Gateshead Council and supported by Durham County Council, Believe Housing and Newcastle City Council. It responds to recommendations set out in FiMT’s Roadmap to End Veteran Homelessness report, which called for earlier, more targeted housing support during the transition phase.
The dedicated adviser will provide information on civilian housing options, help with documentation, and referrals to wider support services where appropriate. Crucially, the adviser will have prior Armed Forces experience, helping to ensure the advice is both practical and empathetic to the realities of military life.
Councillor Chris Buckley, Cabinet Member for Housing at Gateshead Council, said: “We are proud to be part of this important initiative, which will offer practical, face-to-face support for Service personnel as they prepare to leave the Armed Forces. Transitioning to civilian life can be complex, and housing is a critical part of that journey. By embedding expert advice at the point of discharge, we can help prevent housing challenges before they arise and ensure that veterans have the support they need to settle confidently into civilian life.”
Lt Col David Marshall, Deputy Commander Joint Military Command North (Army), welcomed the initiative, saying: “AFOS has over a decade’s worth of experience in assisting Service leavers, reservists, spouses, and veterans to navigate the social housing system across the North East. Offering services like this is vital in achieving our vision to make the military community in the North the best it can be.”
The pilot will also serve as a test case for wider implementation. Learning and data from the project will be shared nationally to inform how local authorities and housing providers support veterans in the future.
Michelle Alston, Chief Executive of Forces in Mind Trust, said: “The vast majority of ex-Service personnel leave the military and secure appropriate housing. However, we know that the early stages of moving into civilian accommodation can sometimes be challenging. This project will trial the potential benefits of direct support at the UK’s largest military garrison, and provide a case study in implementing the findings of our funded Roadmap to End Veteran Homelessness report.”
The project is expected to contribute to longer-term cultural change in how housing support is delivered to the Armed Forces community, ensuring that housing advice becomes a more visible and integrated part of the transition process.
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