No one who has served our country should sleep rough on our streets
The Prime Minister has written to councils in England to ensure veterans sleeping rough receive accommodation before Christmas, backed by £8.7m in targeted funding.
The Prime Minister will personally write to councils in England on Armistice Day, urging them to create specific plans to provide accommodation for any veterans sleeping rough ahead of the Christmas period. The letter follows a commitment that no one who has served should sleep on the streets, aligning with the Armed Forces Covenant. Councils are asked to work with local charities and organisations to address homelessness within the ex-forces community using available funding.
Nearly £9 million is being allocated to eight housing providers across the UK, including in Scotland, Liverpool and Kent, as part of the Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme. This funding will support veterans with complex needs, offering housing, employment and health services. The initiative supplements the government’s broader rough sleeping strategy, which includes a record £4.4 billion investment to end homelessness nationwide.
The Prime Minister has framed the move as a moral duty, stating that those who served should never lack shelter. He emphasised that the principle will guide national and local government action going forward. The government’s approach includes ensuring veterans receive immediate support through a dedicated helpline, which has already assisted over 1,250 veterans into housing.
To access support, veterans or those supporting them are urged to call the UK-wide helpline on 0800 9520774. The helpline connects individuals directly with housing and specialist services, including health and addiction support. The government’s announcement reinforces its broader commitment to end rough sleeping, with funding and coordination aimed at preventing any veteran from sleeping rough on any night.