Forum Brief: Homeless ex-servicemen

Ex-servicemen make up a quarter of homeless people in Britain, according to Shelter and the government's social exclusion unit.

Adam Ingram, the armed forces minister, said that the government saw the resettlement of all service leavers as a "very important part of the transitional process back to civilian life".

Forum Response: Shelter

Christine Parish, director of housing services at Shelter, said: "People can be terribly vulnerable once they leave the armed services. The stability and support of forces life are no longer there and they can feel totally alone as they try to adjust to civilian life. These are tough people, who have often risked their lives to serve their country. But without proper support and advice from projects like Shelter's Armed Forces Project they can easily become homeless."

Forum Response: SSAFA Forces Help

Christopher Hughes-Johnston, spokesman for The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association - Forces Help, told ePolitix.com: I think that the figures quoting 25 per cent homelessness amongst ex-Servicemen were from a report commissioned in 1997.

"Since then the Ministry of Defence had undertaken a number of initiatives to reduce the numbers and he believed that the problem was declining.

"SSAFA Forces Help runs a division in London to work with homeless ex-Service men and women. The contact number is 0207 730 2527 ."

Forum Response: Royal British Legion

A spokesman for the Royal British Legion said: "The Royal British Legion is committed to helping all those in need from the ex-Service community. In particular, help has been given over the last few years by the Legion in supporting, with substantial financial grants, projects targeting the most vulnerable ex-Service homeless. Future initiatives and partnerships with other organisations would be welcomed."

Armed forces minister, Adam Ingram, said: "Effective resettlement of all Service leavers is a very important part of the transitional process back to civilian life. We recognise that some of our ex-Service personnel may require extra help and ensuring that they and their families are suitably housed is particularly important. Along with our other successful partnership project, SPACES with the English Church Housing Group which helps single Service leavers, the Shelter project at the Military Corrective Training Centre is of immense value to the small number of people discharged from the Armed Forces. I am delighted that this project has proven so successful in its first 18 months."