From street to safety in 65 minutes

10 September 2013

Medical staff often refer to the ‘Golden Hour’ – that critical period during which intervention can make the difference between survival and death. Veterans Aid also understands the value of rapid action as this transparent ‘real time’ log illustrates.

On his 39^th birthday ‘M’ was turned out of the garage that had been his home for the past eight weeks. From the time he sent an email to the Veterans Aid website it took just 65 minutes to get him to a safe place. We’re still working with him, but he’s off the ‘critical list’.

Client contact log for ‘M’.

11.40

1) Email from: ‘M’  Sent: 09 September 2013 11:40 To: Info VA  Subject: HOMELESS

Name: – ‘M’  Email: – (Supplied)  Telephone: – (Supplied)  Message: – “I am ex-Army and have tried everything to get work . . . I am now as of today living rough in London. All I need is a job . . .nightmare . . . can you help?  

11.41

2) From: Phillip Rogers VA Case Worker  Sent: 09 September 2013 11:41 To: VA Staff  Subject: RE: Email from VA Website

“I’ll call”.

12.15

3) ‘M’ arrives at VA Drop-in Centre. He’s 39 and looking very down/depressed. Explains he was in Army Medical Services, left at end of military engagement. Went to live in France but work dried up. Came to UK with savings hoping to find work. Has applied for lots of jobs but unsuccessful. Had been living in a garage for past 8 weeks but owner kicked him out today on his birthday.

12.45

4) Admitted by VA to B&B emergency short-term accommodation pending vacancy at VA hostel.

What happens to ‘M’ next depends on him and the team at Veterans Aid. Everyone seeking help is different; all solutions are bespoke, but ‘M’ will be given whatever support he needs to find work, accommodation and his way back to a rewarding life.

News

From street to safety in 65 minutes

Medical staff often refer to the ‘Golden Hour’ – that critical period during which intervention can make the difference between survival and death. Veterans Aid also understands the value of rapid action as this transparent ‘real time’ log illustrates.

On his 39th birthday ‘M’ was turned out of the garage that had been his home for the past eight weeks. From the time he sent an email to the Veterans Aid website it took just 65 minutes to get him to a safe place. We’re still working with him, but he’s off the ‘critical list’.

On his 39^th birthday ‘M’ was turned out of the garage that had been his home for the past eight weeks. From the time he sent an email to the Veterans Aid website it took just 65 minutes to get him to a safe place. We’re still working with him, but he’s off the ‘critical list’.