After his release from prison, John James found himself facing an unexpected and brutal reality: homelessness. Promised support and accommodation in Sunderland, he instead was told to “sleep on a park bench” — a situation that not only risked breaching his license conditions, but also his mental health.
John had already served his sentence, only to face more uncertainty upon release. His experience with the approved premises in Rotherham was initially positive, but it quickly unraveled as he was moved around with no permanent place to stay. “You do your time thinking there’ll be help at the other end,” he said, “but there wasn’t.”
Left with only £25, he bought a bottle of vodka and prepared to sleep rough, believing he had hit rock bottom — until Christine, a support worker from MCVC (Military Community Veterans Centre), stepped in. Calling endlessly and even paying for a hotel out of her own pocket, she ensured John had somewhere safe to stay.
Her determination didn’t stop there. She lobbied tirelessly on his behalf, filling out housing applications, contacting agencies, and keeping in touch daily until permanent accommodation was secured.
“She wouldn’t let me fail,” John said. “She even filled out the same form twice just to make sure it got seen.”
With support, John began turning his life around. Now involved in voluntary work and training, with a positive future ahead of him, he’s determined never to re-offend.
“The system’s broken,” he admits, “but people like Christine are the reason I made it out.”
This story is a stark reminder of the challenges veterans can face when reintegrating into society, and how grassroots support can be the difference between recovery and relapse.