Homeless war heroes have branded an £8.5 million rescue fund to get veterans off of Britain’s streets and into work as a ‘drop in the ocean’.
In a lofty pledge, ministers vowed to finally end the shameful scourge of retired troops sleeping rough within the next 12 months.
Kick-starting the campaign, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak met some former homeless heroes in Number 10 – as the Government unveiled its new scheme.
The initiative, called Operation Fortitude, will enable veterans at risk of homelessness to access vital supported housing and wraparound specialist health care, education and accommodation. It will launch early next year.
Ex-forces personnel who say they were abandoned by the nation after leaving the military have welcomed the extra cash – but said it ‘doesn’t go far enough’ to tackle the crisis.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, right, meets ex-homeless veterans and charity leaders in Downing Street as the Government unveiled its plan stop military heroes from sleeping rough in 2023
The Government launched its £8.5 million investment to fund 900 support accommodation units. Pictured veterans minister Johnny Mercer, right, talking to guests on Monday as Mr Sunak watches
Retired Lance Corporal Mick Dunbar, who completed tours of Bosnia and Kosovo before leaving the Army in 2002, said: ‘£8.5 million isn’t enough. There are veterans all over the country. There should be more money given.
‘These people served this country. They should be looked after. This money is a drop in the ocean.’
Speaking of the Government’s pledge to make sure no veteran is homeless by the end of 2023, the 47-year-old of Keighley, Yorkshire, added: ‘I’ll believe it when I see it. I don’t believe a damn thing up until then.’
The cash injection, announced by Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer, came after warnings from charities who said housing and support for homeless ex-servicemen were facing a crisis.
Groups offering mental health support to traumatised Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, supported in housing at Catterick barracks, in North Yorkshire, warned they were on the brink of running out of cash more than a year ago.
The Riverside Group, a charity that runs the Catterick housing and others nationwide, previously said there was a ‘significant risk’ of collapse in the majority of supported housing services for veterans, which could have thrown many forces heroes fighting back from addition back onto the street.
Speaking after the Downing Street launch, retired British Army Captain Mr Mercer said: ‘No one, not least those who have served this country, should be homeless.
Retired soldier Johnny Mercer MP said the government remains ‘steadfastly committed to ending veteran homelessness in 2023’. He is pictured in Downing Street on Wednesday
The cash pledged by the Government on Wednesday will fund services for two years in more than 900 supporting housing sites in England. Pictured Mr Mercer and the PM
A veteran who was homeless tells his story to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, right, during a meeting at Number 10 on Wednesday
‘That’s why today we are committing £8.5 million in funding and supporting a dedicated pathway, set up in collaboration with our charity partners, so veterans can not only get the housing support they need this Christmas, but also the vital backing required to help them get on their feet again.
‘As a government we remain steadfastly committed to ending veteran homelessness in 2023.’
Figures from between July and September showed there were 131 military veterans sleeping rough in London – five per cent of the capitals homeless community.
Of this, 43 were UK nationals, according to figures from the Greater London Authority. But charities estimate there could be up to 400 veterans sleeping rough every year – while a further 3,000 to 4,000 face homelessness in cars, or derelict buildings.
The cash pledged by the Government on Wednesday will fund services for two years in more than 900 supporting housing sites in England.
A new referral scheme will sign-post veterans at risk of homelessness to housing services and specialist help.
Mr Mercer said the cash would bring forward the Government’s target of ending rough sleeping among veterans by the end of 2024 forward by a year.
Lee Buss-Blair, the Director of Operations for The Riverside Group, said the cash injection would ‘make a significant difference to the lives of vulnerable veterans’.
‘Not only will it support the government’s commitment to end veteran rough sleeping, but it will also provide organisations the resources to support veterans into work,’ he said.
Liam Cary was 16 when he joined the Army but after leaving, he was left homeless for years. Liam is pictured passing out of his basic training
Ex-infantryman Liam Cary is among those who have spent their time after leaving the military on the streets of sofa surfing.
The 27-year-old, who has PTSD and is now living in supported military housing in Walkden, Greater Manchester, said: ‘This will be a lifeline to veterans – particularly the veterans that have been out for a while are the ones who feel forgotten about… it will save lives.’
Michael, who used to service with the Royal Corps of Transport in the Army, has been supported since April 2021 by Riverside at Hardwick House, in Middlesbrough.
Suffering from depression, he added he had spent at least two years living on the street or sofa-surfing and had turned to alcohol to cope, before his family found him a place at Hardwick.
‘I would have been dead if I hadn’t come to Riverside,’ he said. ‘It has been brilliant. They have helped me get back on my feet. There need to be more places like this.
‘Keeping these places funded will have a brilliant effect for veterans. It will give them a new start.
‘There are lads out there ex-squaddies that feel like they have failed and they haven’t. The Government needs to put money in. This has been a long time coming.’
As Christmas approaches a new, temporary support service has been launched to give homeless veterans a place to stay over the winter period.
The scheme can be accessed via a dedicated charity helpline on 01748 833797.
