Helpline launched to assist homeless veterans

A Government-funded helpline has been launched for homeless military veterans that will connect them with housing providers, charities, and local authorities.

The £500,000 helpline – open to people in England, Scotland, and Wales – is part of a two-year £8.55m programme working towards the Government's pledge to end veteran rough sleeping.

The aim of the Veterans' Strategy Action Plan 2022-24 was to achieve that within the current Parliament, but the Government said that with the funding the target can be achieved ahead of schedule.

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The latest Combined Homelessness and Information Network (Chain) report published last week stated that 5% of people seen rough sleeping in 2022/23 in London had served in the Armed Forces at some point in their lives.

Some 2% (119 people) of those seen rough sleeping in the year from April 2022 to March 2023 were UK nationals who have served in the Armed Forces, the report stated.

Veterans' Affairs minister Johnny Mercer 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.

"Operation Fortitude is about bringing all of this together, so any veteran has a clear pathway to get local and customised care."

Guidance has also been published on the Government website setting 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 Government has said the £8.55m cost of this scheme is separate to the £20m Veteran Capital Housing Fund announced in the Spring Budget.

Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness can contact the helpline at 0800 952 0774 or visit riv.org.uk/opfortitude.

A spokesperson said work is in progress to identify how the service can be applied to Northern Ireland.