Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Homelessness Among Veterans

Thursday 16 March 2023 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Research shows 0.7% of homeless households have support needs due to armed forces service, but Op Fortitude aims to end veteran homelessness this year.
  • Government expresses gratitude to Forward Assist for their work supporting veterans.
  • Op Fortitude, a 8.5 million scheme, will provide 910 supported housing placements across the UK to combat veteran homelessness.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Duguid Con
Housing Veterans
Context

The MP questioned the government's efforts to address homelessness among former service members.

Question

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to end homelessness among veterans?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

Research shows only 0.7% of households who were homeless or at risk had support needs as a result of having served in the armed forces, but we will end veteran homelessness this year via Op Fortitude. This new referral scheme will provide a central point for local authorities and charities to identify those in need and refer them to a network of support.

Answered
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Q2 Ian Levy
Veterans
Context

The MP expressed gratitude for the charity Forward Assist, which helps veterans transition back to civilian life.

Question

I am aware that the Minister recently visited Forward Assist, where he met veterans from the north-east, and I know the admirable work it does. Will he join me in expressing gratitude to everyone at Forward Assist?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

My hon. Friend is a huge champion of the charity Forward Assist, which has done incredible work over a long period. The Government and I are clear that there are two groups of veterans who are under-represented: foreign and Commonwealth veterans and women.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific request to join in expressing gratitude was not directly acknowledged, instead the Minister discussed broader efforts for veteran support.

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Q3 David Duguid Con
Housing Veterans
Context

The MP sought information on government actions to help homeless veterans in Scotland.

Question

I thank the Minister for his response. Can he update the House on what this Government are doing across all nations of the United Kingdom to support veterans who are experiencing homelessness, including in Scotland?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

Op Fortitude was something we piloted at Christmas and will go live in the next six weeks. It is a single, defined pathway out of homelessness that local authorities can refer into. Backed by £8.5 million, it buys 910 supported housing placements across the UK.

Answered
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Q4 Patricia Gibson SNP
NHS Veterans
Context

The MP highlighted a high rejection rate for PIP claims by veterans suffering from PTSD, leading to homelessness and food bank reliance.

Question

Some 90% of veterans who try to claim personal independence payment for post-traumatic stress disorder have their applications rejected. This is leaving veterans facing homelessness and being reliant on food banks. Can the Minister explain why this is happening?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

That question might have been relevant six or seven years ago, but today's Government completely transformed how we deal with veterans. There is a transition between charity and government responsibility. If there are any individual cases, I am more than happy for the hon. Lady to refer them to me.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific question on high rejection rates was not directly addressed; instead, general support for veterans was highlighted.

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Q5 Dave Doogan SNP Angus and Perthshire Glens
Housing Veterans
Context

The MP cited figures from the Royal British Legion about homeless veterans in the UK and questioned if Scotland's duty to find permanent accommodation could be matched in England.

Question

Royal British Legion estimated there were up to 4,000 homeless veterans in the UK. In Scotland, there is a duty to find permanent accommodation for all unintentionally homeless applicants, including veterans. Will that exemplar be matched in England?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

I do not recognise those figures at all. There are homeless veterans who involuntarily sleep rough due to lack of provision. We are ending that this year through clear homelessness pathways and working with service charities like Riverside, Stoll, Alabaré to ensure no homeless veterans by the end of this year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific question about replicating Scotland's duty was not directly addressed; instead, general efforts were highlighted.

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