Housing case studies: Communications with Service families

***This Covenant case study database is still being built. If you have any case studies about communications with Service families, suitable for adding to the database, please submit a case study.***

Adopting a flexible approach

• The Armed Forces Outreach Service based in the North East of England supported a Service person, based in Germany, who was about to discharge from the Armed Forces, and wanted to move back to the North East after his discharge. A flexible, tailored approach was taken. Council offices were used as a contact address, as the computer system had not been designed to register addresses overseas. Once a suitable property was identified, a virtual viewing of the property was provided, and photos and videos were sent. A family member also viewed the property on his behalf before he accepted the offer of the property. The property sign-up was done via email, and keys were in a lock box for him to collect upon his return. Some of these practices have now been adopted into mainstream working practice for those applying for housing whilst being based overseas, significantly benefitting the Armed Forces Community applying for housing in these circumstances.