Mother of veteran who died says system still fails veterans on health and housing
Dawn Turner, whose son Robert Homans served 10 years in the Royal Horse Artillery, says veterans face long waits for mental health care and housing; she has launched Rob's Army to press for change as authorities cite funding for NHS serv…
The mother of Robert Homans, a former Royal Horse Artillery soldier who completed two tours in Afghanistan, says veterans still struggle to access housing and mental health support. Homans, 35, was found dead at a house in Worcester last month after years of mental health struggle. He spent a decade in the Army after joining in 2006 and serving two tours in Afghanistan.
Turner described her son as someone who carried both physical and mental scars from service, including partial deafness in one ear and frequent headaches, along with mood swings and fatigue. After returning to Worcester following a divorce, he faced a six-month waiting list for mental health care and a two-year waiting list for housing. He had attempted suicide on three occasions before his death and was homeless, sofa-surfing, at the time.
Turner set up the charity Stepway in 2019 to support veterans after her son’s prior suicide attempt and later launched Robs Army – Justice for Veterans to press for reform. She has criticized the Armed Forces Covenant, arguing that promises to support those who serve have not translated into timely help for her son or others. The Covenant is a pledge that those who serve or have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly by the nation and its services, yet Turner says the system did not live up to those assurances in Robert’s case.
An MoD spokesperson offered condolences to Homans’s family and said the department cannot comment on individual cases. The MoD also noted that more than £25 million has been invested in Op COURAGE to help veterans in England access specialist NHS mental health and wellbeing services.
The case underscores ongoing concerns about how veterans access health and housing support after service. Advocates say funding, while important, must translate into timely access and improved housing pathways for former service members who become homeless or fall through gaps in care. Turner emphasizes accountability and says the government and the MoD must ensure that veterans do not fall through the cracks.
If you have been affected by any issues raised in this story, information and support can be found at the BBC's Action Line website. The broader debate continues over how best to fulfill the Armed Forces Covenant in practice and how to reduce waiting times for mental health care and housing for veterans. The situation in Robert’s hometown of Worcester is a poignant reminder that health needs for veterans extend beyond medical treatment to stable housing and ongoing social support.
The government has repeatedly pointed to funding and programs intended to improve access to care, but families like Turner’s say more must be done to turn policy promises into reliable services on the ground. As campaigns like Robs Army push for accountability, veterans and their families remain hopeful that changes in policy will lead to faster, more comprehensive help for those who served.