Despite government initiatives aimed at preventing homelessness among military veterans, England has witnessed a 14% increase in homelessness within this group over the past year. This surge in homelessness comes in the face of a specific pledge to ensure that no former armed forces personnel would be on the streets during the Christmas season.
Last year, UK ministers announced a funding injection of over £8.8 million to support several hundred housing places catering to veterans that were at risk of closure. This marked the initiation of Operation Fortitude, a scheme designed to provide supported housing and comprehensive specialist care encompassing health, accommodation, and education for veterans facing homelessness. Despite these efforts, recent figures from the Department of Housing reveal that the number of households with a military veteran experiencing homelessness rose from 1,850 last year to 2,110 in 2022-23.
Labour’s analysis of these figures underscores a concerning trend, with approximately 500 veterans’ households becoming homeless every three months. Veterans Affairs Minister Johnny Mercer, who expressed commitment to addressing the issue, acknowledged that while Operation Fortitude had housed 400 veterans, more needed to be done to expand this support across the country.
Shadow Veterans Minister Steve McCabe criticized the government, citing a “postcode lottery” for veterans created by Conservative failures over the past 13 years. He highlighted a reduction in employment support and a lack of consistent aid, leading to a higher incidence of veteran homelessness this year compared to the previous year.
Shadow Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard launched the Homes Fit for Heroes campaign to draw attention to the subpar conditions of armed forces accommodation. The Labour Party, if in power, pledges to incorporate the Armed Forces Covenant into law to ensure better access to quality and affordable homes for former personnel.
Amid rising cost-of-living pressures, serving military personnel and their families have reportedly turned to food banks, with an estimated 2,500 such facilities operating in the UK. Veterans Affairs Minister Mercer argued that the use of food banks was a personal decision, and while they remained a lifeline for dire cases, it was not accurate to suggest that people used them only when left with no choice.
In response to the concerning rise in veteran homelessness, a government spokesperson expressed gratitude to veterans for their service and reiterated the commitment to end veteran rough sleeping. The government cited the provision of up to £8 million for Operation Fortitude, offering veterans at risk of homelessness access to supported housing and specialist care in health, housing, and employment.
