A FORMER homeless man who lived in a van at Farnham Park and Frensham Ponds for six months has thanked charity Transform Housing and Support for helping get his life back on track.

The man, a 47-year-old recovering alcoholic with osteoarthritis of the spine, approached The Herald in desperation in October 2013 after failing to secure a council house despite being on Waverley Borough Council’s housing register for four years.

Within weeks he was formally granted homeless status by Waverley, which in turn brought him to the attention of Transform’s support network.

He was given his own supported flat in Farnham and with the charity’s help, upgraded his banding for a council home.

This July, the man’s six-year search for a council home finally ended when he was handed the keys to a Waverley-owned bungalow in West Street, Farnham.

The move has made his osteoarthritis, which he developed following a work accident 15 years ago, a little more bearable and has also helped him re-build a relationship with his daughter.

The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “Transform deserve all the credit they can get - they provide a brilliant service, and if it wasn’t for them, I don’t know where I would’ve ended up.

“After years of sleeping in a van or on friends’ sofas, within a month of being transferred to Transform in April 2014 they found me a flat.

“Their support network is out of this world - they show real compassion and frequently check to see if you’re alright or offer advice on the best course of action.

“Thanks to them, everything has fallen into place and I now get to see my daughter every two weeks.”

Transform Housing and Support was founded in 1972 as the Surrey Community Development Trust with the aim of providing accommodation for ex-offenders.

Four decades later, the charity works with people with a wide range of support needs and provides expert support to more than 1,000 people every year.

For more information, see the website www.transformhousing.org.uk.