Ex Servicemen Homeless

[blackmaggie 3,376]

up to 9000 ex servicemen and women are homeless after leaving the armed services alot with mental illnesses after serving in war torn areas surely after serving queen and country they should be given priority over immigrants with regardes to housing /benefits etc and after leaving the army they now face another fight just to get another roof over there heads

[The one 8,470]

The a clown at my work both he and his wife in full time employment and they live in a Earl of Haig house They get there hedge and grass cut and windows washed weekly , I gave up donating for a poppy after guys are coming back fro war with limbs missing and this clowns in a house like that

[Huan72 687]

Disgracefully this country has a history of sending its young men to war and forgetting them when they return During WW1, many men were disciplined in the worst possible ways because post traumatic stress disorder was not recognised...........men who couldn't/wouldn't fight at the frontline were sometimes tied to cannon wheels and placed in the line of fire. That was due to ignorance, then after WW2 many men came home to unemployment, but you would think that in this day and age when we are supposed to be so enlightened that men who come back and struggle to readjust to civi street are supported, not left to get on with it. It makes my blood boil when Cameron and the other politicians look all pious and sincere at ceremonies, when down the road there could be a real hero sleeping in a cardboard box Everyone's different and some will fit back into civi street but some will not, so Cameron, rather than buy that new expensive suit for the ceremonies, give the money to that bloke down the road in the cardboard box, you know the one...................the one that fought on your command!!!!!!!!

[dare 1,103]

It's disgusting. Maybe wrong to say it but reasons like this is why I would never support my kids when I have them joining the army.

[Skittles 3]

Part of resettlement is learning about setting up banks, housing even doing out a CV and applying for jobs. Its clear a number of individuals when leaving the army are not able to adapt and look after themselves in civ div. Its a new set of skills to be learnt and coming from the army who do eveything for you to venturing out on your own is like a baby leaving its mother.

 

Could the army do more or is it down to the individual to square himself away and adapt. Good question......

[nans pat 2,575]

It's disgusting. Maybe wrong to say it but reasons like this is why I would never support my kids when I have them joining the army.

its a joke . were was that big eared charles when they were fighting on goose green .sitting eating lobsters with his ma .same here in ireland when bobby sands mp went to his death on hunger stike the so called leaders were talking peace over lunch.its called ruling by fooling .

[blackmaggie 3,376]

surely they should be doing more when they leave they should have all the help and support they can give them regarding housing jobs benefits etc and not just them but there families as well i think its shameful that we forget just how much they have gave and often there just young adults with there all life ahead of them

[Dubba 72]

A lot of ex serviceman are not homeless due to immigrants there homeless because if the way were treated after leaving. There's a serious lack of support when you rejoin civvy life. If your a countryman it's even worse, I cannot go to my GP for PTSD because they now have to disclose it to the police and I'd loose my tickets.

[readie 184]

you would not believe the number of homeless ex forces lads/lasses on the streets.For 2 years i ran help for homeless ex forces (derbyshire) i ran it until my bank account was to overdrawn to carry on in the 2 years i looked and found numerous people on the streets etc with no food benefits etc,a lot had problems to do with alcohol/drugs etc some just did not want to get back into society and prefered to be on the streets.i issued food/clothing sometimes cash etc to them.i also started the ball rolling with councils there regiments etc to get them into flats/hostels the army navy etc only teach people to serve there country.after there times up there just let out the gates without much help,and the transition back into civvie life seems to much for some of them.some charities help them some dont depending when they serves like h4h who only help anyone who served after 2001.theres numerous forces charities out there getting funds in daily but not many that actually spend the cash helping the homeless.look around next time your around a town and see the homeless there,some of these could and probably have served there country- now there left to fend for themselves.

Edited November 1, 2013 by readie

[Dubba 72]

Fair play to you Readie, top man

[paulus 26]

anyone whos done just one days service can ask SSAFA for help. I have worked as a caseworker for the last 8 years. As Readie says there are those on the streets who do it as a lifestyle choice but there are others who are desperate for help but have no idea who to ask or perhaps too proud to ask, The government really should hold its head in shame with the treatment it gives our hero`s upon discharge, every change made to their compensation is done as a cost cutting exercise and not to benefit them, They should receive housing priority. when i was medically discharged in the 90`s, We were living in married quarters and with only 3 months to find alternative accommodation, adding stress to an already stressed situation, eventually the issue of an eviction notice was the only thing that prompted the local authority to make us an offer of accommodation, then everything was a rush.

If you feel strongly about things then consider helping, theres loads of ex forces charities out there that do good, help for Heros is great but as said above it only helps recent servicemen and due to its size and popularity is taking money away from smaller charities, soldiers off the street do great work as do SSAFA. Get involved, volunteer a bit of your time,, fundraise, raise awareness, spread the word,

[socks 32,253]

This says it all .......

[micky 3,325]

This says it all .......

that ought to be sent to every house in Britain.

[Guest JLD91]

I remember seeing a documentary on bbc3 about ex service men and woman being homeless and what they do on a day to day basis and it was heart breaking.

 

The bad thing is knowing it will only get worse and it makes my blood boil.

 

Being 22 and having a lot of family and friends in the services be it Navy or Military, I feel very proud to support the servicemen and won't have anyone disrespecting them in my presence.

[sikastag_1 689]

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Edited August 27, 2019 by grant_c