New funding boosts support for homeless veterans

Al Carns MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Veterans, responded to a question from Stuart Anderson, Conservative MP for South Shropshire, detailing the government’s approach to addressing homelessness among veterans, particularly in rural areas.

In his response, Carns outlined a new £3.5 million funding commitment for veteran homelessness programmes, including Op FORTITUDE. “This is a Government of service that will always stand up for those who serve our country,” Carns said, affirming the government’s dedication to ensuring veterans have access to crucial resources, including housing, health, and employment support.

Carns highlighted that, as of early November, “Op FORTITUDE has taken over 2,700 referrals and supported nearly 800 veterans into housing.” The programme forms part of a wider initiative focused on bridging gaps in support services, especially in rural areas where veterans may struggle to access essential resources.

In addition to this funding, the government has introduced reforms aimed at easing veterans’ access to social housing. “This new funding announcement follows the Prime Minister’s commitment earlier in the year that veterans living in England will be exempt from local connection and residency tests when applying for social housing,” Carns noted.

This exemption is intended to remove barriers for veterans seeking stable housing, providing them with greater flexibility.

To support these reforms, Carns recently joined a roundtable discussion with veteran housing organisations to explore implementation strategies. He is also a member of the Inter-ministerial Group on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping, actively working on “driving progress on the development of our cross-government homelessness strategy.” This multi-faceted approach highlights the government’s efforts to address veteran homelessness and improve support services across the UK.