Seaham man sofa-surfing to raise awareness for homelessness

Ex-army man David McKenna will sofa-surf in the ad hoc lounge at Seaham’s famous Tommy sculpture this weekend.

McKenna, Seaham Councillor and a former Colour Sergeant with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, is ‘Staying with Tommy’ to highlight that sofa-surfing is a form of homelessness prevalent among veterans.

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He will take up residence beneath a gazebo transformed into a makeshift living room from Friday (September 1) to Monday (September 4).

The government recently launched Operation Fortitude, a referral service guiding veterans toward housing providers, charities, and local authorities, but these services primarily address street homelessness and not hidden types of homelessness such as sofa-surfing.

David McKenna (Image: PA)

David is urging the government to extend its support to frontline services, including small charities like East Durham Veterans Trust, which have encountered challenges when accessing schemes such as Operation Fortitude.

Mr McKenna, a Trustee of East Durham Veterans Trust, said: “Veterans can find themselves homeless for various reasons, from the challenges of transitioning to civilian life and grappling with PTSD to family breakdowns, financial hardships, and addiction. Sofa surfing, or hidden homelessness, is a pervasive issue within the veterans' community, with many of us having stories of friends crashing on our couches while they try to get back on their feet.

“It is an honour to serve your country, but life in the Armed Forces can create a disconnect from civilian life. After service, it can be difficult to adjust, manage daily routines, or know where to turn before a problem spirals into a crisis.

“Our veterans possess valuable assets, skills, and training that can transform them into outstanding civilians who contribute to society. All we ask is for those in authority to acknowledge these challenges and establish early intervention systems to provide veterans with the essentials for a successful post-service life: secure accommodation, mental health support, and meaningful employment.

“These essentials can mean the difference between life and death. As veterans, we are acutely aware of the high rate of suicides within our community.”

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He is inviting veterans and others to join him on the sofa over the weekend.

Anyone wanting to support the sleep-out can do so through the ‘Staying with Tommy’ page with funds going to the East Durham Veterans Trust.

David added: “I've witnessed the remarkable work of East Durham Veterans Trust in building support networks, offering guidance, and providing counselling to veterans in our region. It's humbling and heart-wrenching to hear service users express that, without the support from the staff and volunteers, they felt that taking their own lives was their only option.”