THE growing number of homeless veterans around Somerset are set to receive some extra support thanks to a new project launched by a Taunton-based charity.

The Taunton Association for the Homeless (TAH) is to convert its East Reach base into veteran-only accommodation and is looking to the community for support.

The organisation says around 12.9 per cent of its clients are ex-servicemen and the figure is on the rise.

Homeless veterans are often found to have been sleeping rough for longer periods of time and have more complex support needs such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), social isolation, institutionalisation and alcohol addictions.

Now the charity is aiming to do more to assist homeless veterans towards their recovery, and has decided to convert its current office base into a home.

Somerset County Gazette: , chief executive of TAH, said: “We’re so excited to get going with this project.

 

“We know how much it is needed and really want to provide the support that homeless veterans deserve. We are ready and raring to go, but now we need to ask for the support of our kind and generous community. We need your help to fund this project.

“We have set up a Crowd Funding page on Just Giving with an aim to raise £30,000. We encourage groups to fundraise for this worthwhile cause.”

It will also offer assistance in helping clients find work and mentor them so they can support the charity’s services.

There will be a total of eight rooms and specialised support for each client and it is hoped that the property will be up and running by December.

Money raised will go towards the conversion of the property and installing equipment such as wet rooms on the ground floor.

The association said it will be moving in to new office space elsewhere in the town.

The housing will just be the start of the service for the veterans.

A spokesperson for TAH added: “Through the key worker support, clients will be referred to other suitable support agencies to help with issues such as mental health and alcohol addictions. We will assist them back into employment and their own independent life.

“TAH is also keen to explore and allow the skills that many veterans have from their time in service to be used. We plan to train them in mentoring, so that they can become a valuable part of TAH’s services by mentoring younger and more chaotic clients.”

The association is working alongside Splash Community Projects, an Exmouth-based organisation led by ex-British forces.

It is hoped through the partnership that the property conversion will take five weeks.

To find out more about the project, to donate, and to find out more and how you can get involved, visit tah.org.uk or visit the Facebook page.