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| Appeal over ex-service homeless | Appeal over ex-service homeless |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Ex-service personnel are being left homeless because local councils do not prioritise them for housing, campaigners have said. | Ex-service personnel are being left homeless because local councils do not prioritise them for housing, campaigners have said. |
| The Royal British Legion said it had received 1,485 calls from homeless ex-service personnel in the past year. | The Royal British Legion said it had received 1,485 calls from homeless ex-service personnel in the past year. |
| A campaign has now been started by an army mother who successfully fought to get free postage for overseas troops. | A campaign has now been started by an army mother who successfully fought to get free postage for overseas troops. |
| Council officials insist the law ensures they must assist service personnel with their housing needs. | Council officials insist the law ensures they must assist service personnel with their housing needs. |
| Theresa Theobold, who won her campaign for free post to UK troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, said she was struck by how many ex-servicemen and women suffered problems with housing. | Theresa Theobold, who won her campaign for free post to UK troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, said she was struck by how many ex-servicemen and women suffered problems with housing. |
| "It's disgraceful that people who served Queen and country are returning home to find they can't get on the council housing ladder," she said. | "It's disgraceful that people who served Queen and country are returning home to find they can't get on the council housing ladder," she said. |
| "Giving them somewhere to live is the least local authorities can do." | "Giving them somewhere to live is the least local authorities can do." |
| 'Breaking point' | 'Breaking point' |
| Simon Hodge was medically discharged and has had problems finding somewhere to live ever since. | Simon Hodge was medically discharged and has had problems finding somewhere to live ever since. |
| He has three children and a wife to support but says he has been told he is not a priority for council housing. | He has three children and a wife to support but says he has been told he is not a priority for council housing. |
| Councils are letting former soldiers down and don't realise the kind of sacrifice they have made for the country Sue FreethRoyal British Legion 'Nowhere for us to live' | Councils are letting former soldiers down and don't realise the kind of sacrifice they have made for the country Sue FreethRoyal British Legion 'Nowhere for us to live' |
| "I haven't been given any support in finding somewhere to live and had no idea about the sheer cost of renting. I feel my family is at breaking point," he said. | "I haven't been given any support in finding somewhere to live and had no idea about the sheer cost of renting. I feel my family is at breaking point," he said. |
| Former corporal Joseph Maguire has also been affected. | Former corporal Joseph Maguire has also been affected. |
| He says that when he left the Army he applied for council housing with Croydon Council but was told he was not a priority case and faced a very long waiting list. | He says that when he left the Army he applied for council housing with Croydon Council but was told he was not a priority case and faced a very long waiting list. |
| He is currently staying with his mother and cannot afford either rent or a mortgage. | He is currently staying with his mother and cannot afford either rent or a mortgage. |
| In a statement, Croydon Council said it had no record of Mr Maguire's application but would be happy to see him in the New Year. | In a statement, Croydon Council said it had no record of Mr Maguire's application but would be happy to see him in the New Year. |
| A council spokesman said it did prioritise former army personnel, moving them up the housing register when their leaving date is known. | A council spokesman said it did prioritise former army personnel, moving them up the housing register when their leaving date is known. |
| Priority | Priority |
| The campaign has been backed by military support groups such as the Royal British Legion and the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (Ssafa). | The campaign has been backed by military support groups such as the Royal British Legion and the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (Ssafa). |
| In London alone, the legion believes there are 2,500 people who used to be in the services who are homeless. | In London alone, the legion believes there are 2,500 people who used to be in the services who are homeless. |
| The council has to balance the needs of all vulnerable people living in the local area Local Government Association | The council has to balance the needs of all vulnerable people living in the local area Local Government Association |
| The legion's director of welfare, Sue Freeth, said: "Councils are letting former soldiers down and don't realise the kind of sacrifice they have made for the country. | The legion's director of welfare, Sue Freeth, said: "Councils are letting former soldiers down and don't realise the kind of sacrifice they have made for the country. |
| "Local authorities should give priority to all servicemen and women. They need to be cared for." | "Local authorities should give priority to all servicemen and women. They need to be cared for." |
| Athol Henry from Ssafa says it gets hundreds of calls every year from people worried about housing. | Athol Henry from Ssafa says it gets hundreds of calls every year from people worried about housing. |
| 'Successful transition' | 'Successful transition' |
| Local authorities admit that trying to juggle the demands for housing is difficult and controversial. | Local authorities admit that trying to juggle the demands for housing is difficult and controversial. |
| The Local Government Association and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities said the housing needs of all former service personnel were a priority. | The Local Government Association and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities said the housing needs of all former service personnel were a priority. |
| It is the responsibility of individual councils to decide how to prioritise but there is a legal requirement to help ex-service personnel with accommodation. | It is the responsibility of individual councils to decide how to prioritise but there is a legal requirement to help ex-service personnel with accommodation. |
| The LGA said: "This does not guarantee every former soldier will get a council house because not all authorities have their own housing and the council has to balance the needs of all vulnerable people living in the local area." | The LGA said: "This does not guarantee every former soldier will get a council house because not all authorities have their own housing and the council has to balance the needs of all vulnerable people living in the local area." |
| The Communities and Local Government department said the government had invested £300m in preventing homelessness and there had been a 73% drop in the numbers sleeping rough. | The Communities and Local Government department said the government had invested £300m in preventing homelessness and there had been a 73% drop in the numbers sleeping rough. |
| A spokesman said: "We know that most veterans make a successful transition back into civilian life. But we are committed to helping those who find it more difficult. | A spokesman said: "We know that most veterans make a successful transition back into civilian life. But we are committed to helping those who find it more difficult. |
| "This is why former service personnel are already a priority group for homelessness assistance under government guidelines if their service has made them vulnerable to homelessness." | "This is why former service personnel are already a priority group for homelessness assistance under government guidelines if their service has made them vulnerable to homelessness." |
| Are you an ex-services employee finding it hard to find housing? Should the provision of homes for ex-service men and women be automatic? Let us know your experiences or tell us what you think of this appeal by filling in the form below. | |