Far too many homeless heroes

When someone has served their country in the Armed Forces, the least we can do is support them when they make the move back to civilian life.

Yet every year thousands of veterans end up sleeping rough, sofa surfing or living in unsuitable hostels because they’re unable to access housing and slip through the net. Those that have served their country, often through the most trying of times, deserve better.

The Armed Forces Covenant states that anyone who has served in the Forces should face no disadvantage, and this includes accessing social housing. Veterans, who are especially vulnerable to homelessness, should be prioritised for support.

We’ve seen a dramatic rise in the number of homeless veterans seeking help since the pandemic. With the rising cost of living crisis, we know the situation is going to get worse.

Too often former members of the Armed Forces miss out on housing support because they aren’t identified as a veteran. As leading voices in the veterans housing sector, we’ve joined the No Homeless Veterans campaign to urge authorities to do more.

It’s vital that when someone needs help with housing, they are asked whether they’ve served in the Forces.

Many already do, but all local authorities across the UK should be identifying veterans quickly. There is no need for them to be sofa surfing, bouncing from hostel to hostel, or sleeping on the streets. Our heroes deserve better and it’s inexcusable to leave them out in the cold. Richard Gammage, Stoll

Andrew Lord MBE, Alabaré Bernard Stonestreet, East Sussex Veterans Hub

Tim Stockings, Haig Housing Sheena MacKay, Help for Heroes Steve Bentham-Bates, Help 4 Homeless Veterans

Colonel (Ret’d) Tony Gauvain, PTSD Resolution

Emrys Rogers, Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Mark Shields, Royal Air Forces Association