Help if you’re homeless: veterans

Help from military charities

Gov.uk has a directory of military charities which give help and guidance.

The gov.uk veterans and families support guide has information on:

• housing and homelessness

• care

• your physical and mental health

If you're at risk of homelessness or rough sleeping, you can get help finding a place to stay from:

• Veterans Aid on 0800 012 6867

• Royal British Legion on 0808 802 8080

• Op Fortitude run by Riverside on 0800 952 0774

• Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) on 0800 260 6767

These housing associations have longer term housing:

• Stoll - housing and helping veterans

• Haig Housing - homes for the veteran community

Private renting

You could get help with a deposit or rent in advance.

Apply to the council for housing

The MOD gives you a Certificate of Cessation of Entitlement 6 months before you leave the forces.

This says when you stop getting forces accommodation.

You can ask the council for help with housing if you could be homeless. Make sure you show them your certificate.

What the council should do

The council must look into your housing needs if you are homeless now or likely to be homeless in the next 8 weeks.

They also write a personal housing plan. This sets out the steps that you and the council follow to help you find somewhere to live.

Emergency and longer term housing

You should get emergency housing if the council thinks you are in priority need.

Find out who can get longer term housing.

What is priority need?

You're in priority need for housing if you:

• have dependent children who live with you

• are pregnant or have a pregnant partner who you live with

• are under 21 and spent time in care when you were 16 or 17

You also have a priority need if you are vulnerable.

Tell the council if you have:

• a disability or other serious health problems

• struggled to find somewhere to live since leaving the forces

Show the council your medical history release form if you have one.

Council or housing association

You can apply to get on any council's housing register if you’re in the armed forces or you left the forces in the last 5 years.

You must get extra priority on the waiting list if you're homeless and either:

• you served in the regular armed forces

• you're still in the regular or reserve forces and are seriously injured, ill or disabled because of your service

You should also get extra priority if you have to leave services family accommodation (SFA) because your husband, wife or civil partner died in service.

Help with your rent and living costs

You could get the universal credit housing element to help with rent.

You apply for housing benefit if you stay in a hostel or other supported or temporary housing.

Find out where to get grants and emergency help with food and other costs.