New government-funded hotline to end veteran homelessness now live across the UK

• Op FORTITUDE - the pathway for homeless veterans - launched nationally by Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer to end veteran homelessness in 2023

• The hotline is part of £8.55 million fund, which will also bring wraparound support services to support 1,300 veterans across more than 900 housing units

• Guidance also published signposting support to secure social or private housing

From today, vulnerable veterans across the country will have access to Op FORTITUDE, a new dedicated referral pathway for homeless veterans including those sleeping on the streets. 

The first-of-its-kind hotline is part of a two-year £8.55 million programme to fulfil the government’s pledge to end veteran rough sleeping. The Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan 2022-24 sets out the intention to achieve this within the current Parliament, but thanks to new funding this is set to be achieved ahead of schedule.

Run by social housing provider Riverside Group, the £500,000 housing hotline will give homeless veterans a single point of contact to get them the help they need. Op FORTITUDE staff will refer callers to a network of support, including housing providers, charities and local authorities. 

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Rt Hon. Johnny Mercer MP, said:

“Everyone deserves a place they can call home, not least those who have served their country. Today’s launch is a huge milestone in ending veteran homelessness and a clear demonstration of this government delivering on its promises.

“There is a lot of great work being done across the country to help veterans get the right level of support. Op FORTITUDE is about bringing all of this together, so any veteran has a clear pathway to get local and customised care.”

Transitioning from the armed forces remains a challenge for some. The programme has been designed to support 1,300 vulnerable veterans over two years across almost 60 housing complexes, ranging from apartment blocks to shared houses. 

Projects by nine housing providers will target difficult problems so that veterans can get back on their feet and thrive in civilian life. Wraparound services include specialist medical care, connections with local communities and the tools they need to get jobs.

All nine projects will be ready to take Op FORTITUDE referrals by September, expanding the pathway’s network of housing providers from 10 to 14. This includes plugging into a network of 650 homes across Scotland with Veteran Homes Scotland, as well as a brand new consortium of housing across the North West of England.

Lee Buss-Blair, Operations Director, Riverside Group said:

"Riverside are honoured to be the organisation chosen to deliver the Op FORTITUDE pathway. Its mission, to end veteran homelessness, is one that we are extremely passionate about.

“Every veteran, including the most vulnerable, has the potential to make a positive contribution to their communities if given the right support. Ultimately our goal is to ensure that these veterans receive this support and can go on to fulfil their potential.

“This is the first initiative designed to end veteran homelessness, and while the task is a big one, we think that the levels of veteran rough sleeping are such that it is one that we believe can be achieved with collaboration across many sectors.

“There are still many things that we do not know, including the level of demand we will be faced with. But Op FORTITUDE is an opportunity for us to develop a clear picture of the level of need which will support us to make sure that the veteran sector is structured to be able to effectively respond."

To further support veterans in securing housing, the Office for Veterans’ Affairs has published guidance on gov.uk. This guide sets out the housing options and support available to veterans, service leavers and their families in England, including routes into both veteran-specific and civilian housing. 

The guide can also be used by providers of housing and housing support services to determine the most appropriate course of action.

In the 2023 Spring Budget, the Office for Veterans’ Affairs secured £20 million for a Veterans Housing Capital Fund. The money will go towards providing extra housing for veterans through the development of new builds and the refurbishment of social and charitable housing for veterans.

Notes to editors

• A home in civilian society - a guide for the armed forces community can be accessed here from Tuesday 4 July.

Further information on Op FORTITUDE

• Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and the organisations working with them are encouraged to contact the Op FORTITUDE hotline from Monday 3 July 2023 on 0800 952 0774 or through a secure web portal at riv.org.uk/opfortitude. 

• Further information can be found at www.riverside.org.uk/care-and-support/veterans/.

• From 3 July, the following housing providers will be accepting Op FORTITUDE referrals: Launchpad, Alabare, ENTRAINSPACE, STOLL, MySpace Housing, Healthier Heroes, SSAFA (female-specific), Royal British Legion Industries, Riverside Group and Erskine. By September, all funding recipients new to the network will be plugged in: Veteran Homes Scotland, Wigan Council, LiveWest Homes and New Pastures Housing Ltd.

Further quotes

Kevin Gray MM, Chief Executive of Veterans Housing Scotland said: 

“We are very grateful to have received this grant from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, it will make a huge difference to our work in helping to prevent veterans’ homelessness in Scotland. We look forward to working in collaboration with the Defence Medical Welfare Service and with Op FORTITUDE on a programme that will deliver improved wellbeing, reduced homelessness through increased housing stability and result in better overall outcomes for our veterans.”

Kirsty Scullion, Partnership and Income Generation Manager, Alabare said:

“On behalf of Alabaré and our veterans I am so pleased to receive the news that our Homes for Veterans have been successful in securing the funding from the Office of Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) driving forward their agenda to end homelessness for veterans.  We have been supporting veterans for over 12 years now and so to secure funding through this great partnership of OVA, Armed Forces Covenant Trust and Riverside, means that we are able to support another 300 veterans in the next two years.  

“Our work in Wales is particularly exciting, in bringing together, with partners, our pathway for veterans not only provides secure accommodation but also opportunities for veterans to face head on their hidden wounds, opening up conversations whilst enjoying heritage, conservation and nature.  We are so excited to be part of this pathway across England and Wales in making sure that those who have served their country in the military are not living on the streets but have hope and a future.  Alabaré is passionate about supporting these men and women and looking forward to continuing this vital work.”