veteran overcomes homelessness with new believe housing home

An army veteran who faced homelessness when his house was repossessed says he was “barely managing” his situation until he secured a new home with believe housing. 

Retired Royal Artillery Sergeant Terry Coxon feared he would be made homeless after his mortgage company began legal proceedings to repossess his house in County Durham. 

Terry had been paying an interest only mortgage and was devastated when he reached the end of his fixed term and learnt he still owed a significant amount on his three-bed house. 

At the age of 69 and in poor health, after a heart attack and two strokes, he could not repay the mortgage, and the house was subsequently repossessed. 

Terry, whose 22 years’ service included four tours of Northern Ireland, turned to housing association believe housing and the Armed Forces Outreach Service (AFOS) for help. 

Working together they were able to help Terry apply for and secure a believe housing bungalow in the Peterlee area, and to access benefits advice. 

He said: “I’d never missed a payment, but I just didn’t realise I hadn’t really been paying off the mortgage. 

“My house was being repossessed, and it shook me to the core.  

“I found it a bit difficult asking for help but ever since I did the support has been fantastic,” he said. 

The Armed Forces Outreach Service is a local authority partnership in the northeast of England, part funded by believe housing, which supports military personnel, veterans, and their families with housing and other issues. 

When Terry first spoke to AFOS Outreach Worker Steve Winter a possession order had not yet been made, so he was not eligible for a social home at that time. 

Steve said: “We realised his housing situation was vulnerable and were able to think about his housing and support needs in advance and prevent him becoming homeless when his house was later repossessed. 

“This was only possible because of the close working relationship between the AFOS and believe housing, and the way we look holistically at a person’s needs.” 

Terry added: “They jumped through hoops to make sure I got somewhere, and it was only when talking to believe housing that I learnt I qualified for Pension Credit and help with my rent. 

“I’ve had two strokes and a heart attack; you could say I’m very poorly indeed.  

“I was barely managing before, so to get the help and home I needed is beyond my wildest dreams. The bungalow is absolutely ideal and provides what I need perfectly. 

“I’ve never claimed anything before and never really asked for help but, once I did, they were able to do things I needed without me really asking. 

“It shows there are people out there who care for someone, who in all honestly, was struggling.” 

Simon Bartlett, Interim Director of Neighbourhoods at believe housing, said: “Colleagues across believe housing worked together and with the AFOS to support Terry before he became another homelessness statistic, putting strain on his wellbeing as well as public services. 

“We are so pleased to have been able to help Terry to access the support and home he needed to feel secure and happy; his story is just one of many in which social housing is the lifeline so many people in the country need.” 

believe housing is a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant and has achieved the Employer Recognition Scheme gold award in recognition of its support for employees and customers from the military community. 

To find out more about how we support the armed forces community in County Durham, visit: support for military personnel | believe housing