Barjabahadur Gurung, a proud former Gurkha soldier of the 10 Gurkha Rifles, recently faced one of the toughest battles of his life — homelessness. Despite his years of loyal service, he and his family were left without a roof over their heads after being evicted by a private landlord earlier this year.
The eviction left the Gurung family in a vulnerable position, with no immediate place to live .Losing their home was a devastating blow.
In their time of need, the Gurkha Peace Foundation (GPF), stepped in to offer critical assistance. Understanding the urgency of the situation, like language barriers, approaching to appropriate help desk, local authorities and so on. GPF helped Mr. Gurung’s application for social housing through Ashford Borough Council. However, due to high demand and long waiting lists, immediate housing was not available.
While waiting for a permanent home, the family was placed in temporary hotel accommodation. During this difficult period, the Gurkha Peace Foundation continued to provide vital support — ensuring the family’s well-being by helping with food, daily needs, and emotional support as a family.
After months of uncertainty and patience, the Gurung family’s perseverance finally paid off. Thanks to the combined efforts of GPF and the Ashford Borough Council, they have now moved into a permanent home in Ashford.
Mr. Gurung expressed deep gratitude to both the charity and the local authority for their unwavering support during this difficult time. “We feel blessed and thankful. Without the help from GPF and Ashford Borough Council, we don’t know what would have happened,” he shared.
The story of Barjabahadur Gurung is not just the one, hundreds of Gurkha Veteran have a similar situation. Because of most of Gurkha Veterans started living in the UK when they were very old age, with no language or Basic knowledge of British culture etc. it’s a reminder of the importance of community, charity, and local government working hand in hand to support those who have sacrificed so much in the United Kingdom.
A heartfelt thank you to Ashford Borough Council and the Gurkha Peace Foundation for ensuring that no veteran is left behind.