Ex-Service Action Group on Homelessness

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Veterans Issues - Homelessness

ACCOMMODATION INITIATIVES

Local Connection Previously, Local Connection legislation meant that service leavers received no credit for having lived and worked in an area, when applying for social housing. This has now been amended in England and Wales. We hope that Scottish Ministers will be able to change their legislation in 2009/10 to remove this discrimination against Service personnel and their families.

Key Worker status Armed Forces personnel with over six years service are now entitled to keep their priority Key Worker status for 12 months after leaving the Armed Forces to help them buy a house through the affordable home schemes in England. A similar scheme is now running in Wales under their Homebuy scheme. Scotland has introduced the same priority extension for Armed Forces leavers through their affordable homes scheme.

Specially Adapted Social Homes From April 2009, ex-Service men and women who are seriously injured were given priority for specially adapted social homes. This will help ensure better availability of specially adapted housing with features like walk-in bathrooms, wider door frames, lowered light switches, and entry slopes rather than steps as part of the Government’s commitment to support those injured in the service of their Country.

Grants to Adapt Homes Injured personnel can now access grants of up to £30,000 to adapt their homes, without their compensation payments being means-tested. Seriously injured personnel are entitled to privileged access to affordable housing schemes in England.

Social Housing - amended law in England and Wales to ensure Service personnel can claim local connection like other applicants. We hope Scotland will follow suit this year. Priority status in affordable housing schemes across Great Britain, including ability to apply 12 months after discharge.

Supported Housing Mike Jackson House in Aldershot provides supported housing for Service Leavers at risk of becoming homeless opened last year and is fully occupied. Building work on a similar 31-unit scheme in Catterick started on 19 January 2010.

Home Ownership Pilot Scheme. A pilot shared equity scheme, the “Armed Forces Home Ownership Scheme (Pilot)” was launched on 26 January 2010. The pilot is designed for full time, permanent members of the Armed Forces with between 4 and 6 years service who wish to remain in the Armed Forces and buy a property in England. The pilot scheme is intended to test a specific approach towards encouraging home ownership in the Armed Forces and will run until Spring 2013.

For more information, contact the Veterans Welfare Service.