VIDEO and PICTURES: Stourbridge landlord provides rent-free house for homeless ex-serviceman
A landlord moved by the plight of ex-soldiers living rough has offered a home to help a former serviceman get back on his feet.
Chris Foxall, from Stourbridge, said he had read about homeless veterans online and wanted to make a difference, by giving them a chance to escape the 'vicious circle' of homelessness.
When one of his properties, in Netherton, was available, the 42-year-old decided to make it available to an ex-soldier.
They will be able to live at the one-bedroom flat rent-free for three months and with no deposit - enough time to help them get back on their feet by either getting a job or sorting out their benefits.
Mr Foxall turned to social media to ask people the best way of going about it and had been overwhelmed by the response.
He said a Facebook post had been shared more than 300,000 times and liked by more than one million, with people from New Zealand, Australia and America getting in touch.
He said: "It's lovely to be able to help one person, as that was my aim but now there are 50 other landlords putting posts up saying they're going to do the same thing."
An ex-servicemen has been found to move into the property in Northfield Road and Mr Foxall said he will be installed as soon as he leaves hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne.
