Labour reveals 14% rise in veterans homelessness as thousands of former Armed Forces personnel made homeless in the last year

Labour analysis has revealed that veterans’ homelessness rose by 14% in the year 2022-23 compared to the previous year.

Labour’s analysis of the latest quarterly homelessness statistics has found there are around 500 veterans’ households being made newly homeless every three months – up to 180 households a month.

Shadow Veterans Minister Steve McCabe criticised the Government for 13 years of failure on support for veterans which has seen a postcode lottery created and employment support halved.

Data shows that for the fiscal year 2022-23, 2,110 households containing someone who served in the Armed Forces were assessed as homeless, up from 1,850 in the previous year.

The Government provides a breakdown of households assessed as homeless every three months, with a specific measure for households containing a former member of the Armed Forces.

In Government, Labour will fully incorporate the Armed Forces Covenant into law to fulfil the moral contract with those who serve and make sure that former personnel have easy access to high quality, affordable homes fit for heroes.

This year, Shadow Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard MP launched Homes Fit for Heroes, a Labour campaign to highlight the poor state of armed forces accommodation.

The Homes Fit for Heroes campaign is asking forces and their families to share their experiences of defence housing with Labour.

Recently, Labour revealed that one in three service personnel are living in the lowest grade of service accommodation.

Labour’s Shadow Veterans Minister, Steve McCabe MP, said: 
“Labour is deeply proud of our Armed Forces personnel, veterans, and their families for the enormous contribution they make to our country. But they are being let down by this Government. 

“After 13 years of Conservative failure, Ministers have created a postcode lottery for veterans, halved employment support and more veterans are homelessness this year than last year.

“In Government, Labour will fully incorporate the Armed Forces Covenant into law, fulfilling the moral contract our society makes with those who serve and make sure that former personnel have easy access to high quality, affordable homes fit for heroes.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Initial assessments of statutory homelessness duties owed
England 

Change YoY: 14%

Quarterly figures – households assessed as homeless in each quarter

April to June 2023 – Latest, published 30 November 2023 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/657c946383ba38000de1b66b/Detailed_LA_202306_all_dropdowns_fix.ods  

January to March 2023 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64be39d02059dc00125d282d/Detailed_LA_202303.ods  

October to December 2022 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/645a4e1ec6e8970012a0fb84/Detailed_LA_202212.ods  

July to September 2022 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63fcd305d3bf7f25f2d08836/Detailed_LA_202209.ods  

Labour’s Homes fit for heroes campaign 

This year, Mr Pollard launched Homes Fit for Heroes, a Labour campaign to highlight the poor state of armed forces accommodation: 

https://labourlist.org/2023/03/labours-new-campaign-will-spotlight-tory-neglect-of-armed-forces-housing/  

One in three service personnel living in lowest grade accommodation

Service personnel living in grade 4 Service Accommodation as of October 2023: 

 

Employment support for veterans

In 2019, the Government announced funding for more than 100 Armed Forces Champions in jobcentres. However, last year, the Veterans Strategy Action Plan confirmed that Ministers were pushing ahead with plans for only 50 of these specialist advisors. 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1103936/Veterans-Strategy-Action-Plan-2022-2024.pdf