ROUGH SLEEPING
The government has promised to end veteran homelessness in England by the end of the year. A new helpline set up to do it has been in high demand
This is the year that veteran homelessness in England will come to an end, according to Johnny Mercer, minister for veterans’ affairs. He said – on air on LBC Radio in February – that this huge achievement will be all thanks to Op Fortitude.
Backed by £8.5 million of government money over the next two years, the scheme is a new pathway for veterans experiencing homelessness focusing on supported housing.
It aims to help them overcome difficulties adjusting to civilian life after service and other drivers of homelessness, including PTSD, alcohol misuse and relationship breakdown.
A new Op Fortitude helpline launched in July, and in its first week 150 veterans called up, which is more than 10% of the volume of calls it expected to receive over the entire first year.
Lee-Buss Blair, director of operations and group veteran lead at housing association Riverside, who is running the scheme, said he suspected veterans had been waiting for the scheme to go live after it was announced last year.
“The more time I’ve spent with veterans, the more I’ve heard the same story in relation to veterans waiting far longer to ask for help
