Following the General Election, the Government made a commitment to help service personnel get the housing they need and deserve. After a successful summit on the issue with key players, the Government is delivering on that commitment, ensuring that serving and ex-service personnel receive top priority for housing help by:
- Placing members of the Armed Forces at the top of the priority list for Government-funded home ownership schemes.
- Consulting on plans to change the law so that former personnel with urgent housing needs are always given high priority for social housing, and personnel who move from base-to base do not lose qualification rights.
- Issuing statutory guidance to councils on the allocation of social housing, setting out how allocation schemes can give priority to current or ex-service personnel.
- Encouraging custom built housing, so that more housing is designed by, and for, ex-service personnel.
- Providing a £1.5 million fund to support the successful integration of retired Gurhka soldiers and their dependants, who, having served in the British Army, now wish to settle in the UK.
- The Government is also helping those wounded in combat to live independently upon their return, giving them the support they deserve. The Disabled Facilities Grant provides funding for home adaptations and the total will rise to £185m by 2014/15.
The issue of homelessness amongst ex-Forces personnel is an issue that the Government is working hard with specialist agencies to tackle. Enhanced resettlement support for early service leavers will help ensure that personnel leave the Services with skills to support themselves in civilian life.
Justin Tomlinson MP said “Our Armed Forces deserve all the help that we can give them. The tangible steps the Government is taking to ensure that Forces personnel get the very best housing help will make a real difference to them and their families. I welcome the announcement that we are delivering on our commitment to support our troops, they deserve no less.”
Photo copyright Tim Beach