Grant Shapps: This Government are committed to preventing
and tackling homelessness and protecting the most vulnerable, including among
veterans. The Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness will shortly
publish its second report on preventing homelessness which will include
veterans. The latest figures from CHAIN highlight that only 4% of rough
sleepers from the UK
have experience of the armed forces. I
am determined to ensure that current and former members of the armed forces
gain the housing they deserve, recognising the sacrifices they have made for
the country. I have therefore introduced measures to place members of the armed
forces at the top of the priority list for home ownership schemes, including
FirstBuy and instructing special agents to visit military bases to promote such
schemes. We are also working with credit reference agencies and Royal Mail to
standardise forces' post office addresses so personnel are not disadvantaged
when applying for mortgages. We have
also recently finished consulting on proposals to change the law to make it
easier for service personnel to access social housing so that former personnel
with urgent housing needs are always given high priority on waiting lists, and
that personnel who move from base to base do not lose their qualification
rights. Under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 priority need is granted to a
person who is vulnerable as a result of having been a member of Her Majesty's
regular naval, military or air forces.
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