Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged that no one who has served the country should be left to sleep rough, as his government allocates nearly £9m to support veterans facing homelessness.
Burnham, a long-standing campaigner against rough sleeping who donates 15 per cent of his wage to homelessness causes, is writing to councils across England to ask them to draw up plans to offer accommodation to any veterans sleeping rough ahead of the Christmas period.
Funding for veteran housing support
Some £8.7m is being allocated to eight organisations across the United Kingdom, including in Scotland, Liverpool and Kent, as part of the Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme. Wigan Council and Veteran Housing Scotland are among the beneficiaries.
The government says the funding will provide targeted housing, employment and health support for veterans.
Prime Minister's commitment
Burnham said: "No one who has served our country should be left to sleep rough on our streets. It is a simple principle and, from now on, I am setting it as an operating principle for the whole of government, national and local."
He added: "People who stepped forward prepared to put their lives on the line for the rest of us should never lack a roof over their head. When they need help, the country owes them more than warm words. It owes them a bed every night, a proper plan and someone in their corner from day one."
Helpline for veterans
To help deliver the new commitment, the Prime Minister is urging any veterans sleeping rough, or those supporting them, to call the UK-wide helpline on 0800 9520774, which can connect them directly with housing and other specialist support.
The helpline has already supported more than 1,250 veterans into housing to date.
