More than £8.5 million of funding has been announced in order to
ensure no veteran should sleep rough this Christmas, and veteran
homelessness is ended in 2023.
The funding will deliver services in more than 900 housing units
in England, where specialist help for veterans, including with
health, education and employment needs are provided.
The new money announced today will also allow for the
establishment of a new referral scheme - Op FORTITUDE, that will
enable veterans at risk of homelessness to access supported
housing and wrap-around specialist care in health, housing and
education. Working with charities, the funding will ensure a
single central point for local authorities and charities to
identify those in need and refer them to a network of
support.
Ahead of the funding, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs worked with the veteran
housing charity sector, bringing them together to establish a
temporary referral scheme in England and Scotland for the
Christmas period, ensuring that no Veterans should be sleeping
rough this Christmas.
Veterans can access the scheme through a dedicated charity
helpline, on the number 01748 833797.
This temporary referral scheme should ensure that no veteran who
seeks support is homeless at Christmas.
The Prime Minister will today (Wednesday) host an event at No10
attended by charities Riverside and Stoll, along with veterans
who were previously homeless. The Prime Minister will discuss
with attendees the issue of veteran homelessness and how the
government, including the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, can best
ensure that everyone who needs support gets it.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Chief Secretary to the
Treasury will also attend.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs said:
"No one, not least those who have served this country, should be
homeless.
“That’s why today we are committing £8.5m in funding and
supporting a dedicated pathway, set up in collaboration with our
charity partners, so veterans can not only get the housing
support they need this Christmas, but also the vital backing
required to help them get on their feet again.
“As a government we remain steadfastly committed to ending
veteran homelessness in 2023.”
Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said:
“It’s a sad fact that so many people who have served this country
find themselves sleeping rough on the streets.
“Our mission is to put a stop to that, which is why we’re
providing £8.5m in funding for over 900 housing units that
support our veterans and creating a new service that will help
those at risk of homeless access housing much more easily.
”Today’s announcement should ensure that no veteran who seeks
help will be on the streets this Christmas.”
Lee Buss-Blair, the Director of Operations for The Riverside
Group, and Member of the Veterans Advisory Board said:
“This funding will make a significant difference to the lives of
vulnerable veterans.
“Not only will it support the Government’s commitment to end
veteran rough sleeping, but it will also provide organisations
the resources to support veterans into work.
“Veterans have so much to offer employers and communities, and
thanks to this funding, providers will be far better placed to
support them to realise their potential.”
The funding will ensure the government’s pledge in the Veterans’
Strategy Action Plan 2022-24 to end veteran rough sleeping within
this Parliament, is delivered a year early.
Running for two years the funding provides help and support to
some of the most vulnerable veterans in our society.
The vast majority of veterans go on to live happy, healthy and
successful lives. But some do struggle and today's announcement
further demonstrates the government's commitment to making this
the best country in the world to be a veteran.
Notes for editors:
·
The £8.55m committed today will provide funding for charity
support services at over 900 housing units.
