Ex-Royal Navy Sally Stimson has ten years’ experience of supporting fellow veterans with their housing needs. She joined Housing Options Scotland in May 2026 as our dedicated Military Matters Housing Options Broker.
Joining Housing Options Scotland as the Military Matters Broker felt a bit like stepping into familiar ground but with new challenges and expectations.
As a veteran myself, who’s worked in housing before, I came into the role with a fair idea of the challenges veterans face. I’ve seen the system from different angles, and I thought I knew what to expect: helping people explore housing options, guiding them through processes, and advocating when needed. That is definitely part of it but the reality is a lot more personal than I’d originally thought.
In these first few weeks, what’s really stood out is the human side of the job. There’s a shared understanding when you’re speaking to someone from the Armed Forces community they don’t have to explain the basics of service life, the constant moves, or how strange it can feel transitioning back into civilian systems to me. That helps builds trust quickly, which is really important. The people we support aren’t just coming with housing questions; they’re often dealing with uncertainty about their next chapter, and sometimes a lot more besides.
Even with my background in housing, there’s been a lot to get my head around. The Scottish housing landscape has its complexities. There are different pathways, local authority systems and eligibility criteria and no two areas are exactly the same. It’s been a reminder that knowledge in this sector is never static. You have to keep learning, keep asking questions, and keep adapting your advice to fit the person in front of you. Luckily I have the wealth of knowledge and experience of the other brokers to draw on when I am not sure.
What’s also struck me is how housing is hardly ever a standalone issue. It’s tied into every aspect of life, employment, family, mental health, finances. You might start a conversation about accommodation and quickly find you’re supporting someone through a much bigger transition. That’s where the role becomes more than just “housing advice.” It’s about listening properly, understanding what someone actually needs, and helping them navigate a path that makes sense for them.
The other part of this role is making people in the armed forces community more aware of the support available. There are still many who don’t realise what support is out there or they come to it later than they should, when things have already become difficult. If we can reach people earlier in their transition, it could make a huge difference.
Looking back on these first few weeks, I’d say the role has both met and challenged my expectations. It’s familiar enough to feel comfortable, but different enough to keep me thinking and learning every day. Most importantly, it feels meaningful. Being able to use both my lived experience and professional background to help others find stability is so rewarding and I am excited to be part of this amazing charity.