Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, Member of Parliament for Solihull West & Shirley and British Army Veteran, has met with representatives from the Veteran Housing Group (VHG) to discuss their pioneering approach to supporting former service personnel through sustainable housing, wraparound care, and transition services.
The meeting focused on VHG’s innovative model, which seeks to repurpose underused or dilapidated local authority housing stock into supported accommodation for veterans in urgent need of shelter, mental health support, and employment pathways.
Under the charity’s model, once these properties are restored, they are subleased under VHG’s non-profit framework to deliver structured transition services. These services include mentoring, mental health support, retraining, and upskilling, with the ultimate aim of empowering veterans to move on to permanent housing and independence, free from benefit dependency or exploitative private tenancies.
“As a veteran myself, I am acutely aware of the unique challenges faced by those transitioning from service to civilian life,” said Dr Shastri-Hurst. “The Veteran Housing Group’s model is not only compassionate, but also practical, cost-effective, and scalable. It restores dignity, purpose, and structure to the lives of those who have served our country. I look forward to holding further conversations with VHG and Solihull Council to discuss local opportunities”
