Social Housing for Veterans

I welcome plans today announced by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to prioritise social housing for veterans suffering from mental health conditions, ensuring our armed forces get the help they need.

Government plans will mean all applicants for social housing will be asked if they have served in the Forces to make sure our armed forces receive the help they need. This means under the proposals from the eight-week consultation, those with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental illnesses could be treated in the same way as those with physical injuries and get the priority they deserve.

The Government are also publishing new guidance which will encourage councils to waive the residency rules, so that people who split from a partner in the Forces are not denied social housing as a result of not being resident in their local area long enough.

While the vast majority of veterans thrive in civilian life, we have a responsibility to ensure that any who do struggle as a result of their service – whether finding a job, getting on the property ladder or with mental health issues – get the support they need and I am proud to support these measures which mean so much for our armed forces veterans.