Focus On: Armed Forces Charities' Housing Provision
Abstract:Â Housing provision refers to the provision of accommodation, and other relevant support services, which help members of the armed forces community to secure and maintain suitable housing. Having a home is a fundamental part of a successful transition to civilian life. After all, without stable accommodation, it can be extremely difficult to secure a job, stay healthy, maintain relationships or even carry out practical everyday tasks like opening a bank account. As evidenced by previous research, the vast majority of Service leavers transition smoothly to civilian life and secure appropriate housing (Bevan, M. et al., 2018). However, for those who approach forces charities for help, there is a huge variety of support available to suit all levels of housing need. Forces charities offer a diverse range of housing services, which range from help with housing applications to long-term family homes and hostel beds for homeless exService personnel. The purpose of this report is to hold an objective mirror to the armed forces charity sector and for the first time, provide a comprehensive account of the housing provision they offer. To fulfil this remit, DSC devised the following research questions: - How many forces charities deliver housing support and how many beneficiaries do they support? - What types of housing services are delivered by forces charities? - What examples of best practice, collaboration and evaluation exist?
Abstract: Background: Exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) during military service can lead to moral injury (MI) outcomes and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). This longitudinal study examined the relationships between PMIE exposure, MI outcomes, and PTSS among Israeli combat veterans, and the potential protective role of dispositional forgiveness in these associations. Method: Participants were 169 Israeli combat veterans who participated in a six-year longitudinal study with four measurement points (T1: 12 months before enlistment, T2: Six months following enlistment- pre-deployment, T3: 18 months following enlistment- post-deployment, and T4: 28 months following discharge). Participants’ characteristics were assessed via semi-structured interviews (T1) and validated self-report measures (T2-T4) between 2019-2024. Results: Approximately 36% of participants reported exposure to PMIEs during service, with 13% exceeding the clinical threshold for probable PTSD at T4. PMIE-Betrayal at T3 was positively associated with MI outcomes of shame and trust violation at T4. The indirect effect of PMIEs on PTSS through MI outcome-Shame depended on forgiveness levels. Among veterans with low forgiveness, higher exposure to PMIE-Betrayal was associated with increased MI shame, which was linked to more severe PTSS. Conversely, for those with high forgiveness, exposure to PMIE-Self and Other was associated with decreased MI shame and subsequently reduced PTSS. Conclusion: Dispositional forgiveness moderates the relationship between PMIE exposure and MI outcomes, particularly shame, which mediates the development of PTSS. These findings highlight forgiveness as a potential target for intervention in treating moral injury and preventing PTSS among combat veterans.