Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

We really need your support on this, the Petition is going very slow http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/forceshousing/ and the EDM has gone up slowly, but I know that will take time. If your MP has not back to you then please email him/her again. http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/cont...g-513998.shtml this is a very simple system to us.

Go on show your support now. Then pass the links onto friends and family :angel:


Regards

Hitback

P.S Would you be interested in seeing the letter I sent the Queen plus the reply?

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Yes! :tu:

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Ditto :tu:

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Signed the petition of course ;)

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

This is a copy of the letter I sent the Colonel and Chief of The Royal Green Jackets (Her Majesty the Queen). As you will see by the date I sent this letter a year ago and I got a reply. The issue on Homelessness amongst ex-forces personnel is being asked in the House of Commons all the time, but still they fail to address its discrimination towards our Armed Forces. The Royal Green Jackets are now the Rifles.

Regards
Hitback



Mr Nicholas Cxxxxx
16 Oxxxxx Dxxxxe Cxxxxxxs
Sxxxx
Bxxxxxxx
Sxxx 5xx

13 March 2006



Your Majesty


I am Colour Sergeant Nicholas Cxxxxxx of the 1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets. At this present moment in time, I am off work on long term sick with a spinal injury. I am having a second operation in the near future to hopefully correct the disability and pain I’m suffering.

I followed my father into the Armed Forces, in fact the very same regiment. He completed his 22 years and I am only months away from completing mine. As a service family member, I have never called anywhere home, moving from place to place every two to three years.

I believe it is very important to keep my chain of command up to date with current issues which affect the smooth running of the military and their families’ lives. As your Majesty is the Colonel of Chief of the Royal Green Jackets, I thought it was my duty to inform you of the following issue.

The current Homelessness Legislation is being used against serving members and their families when they are looking to settle down in an area in which they have lived, but have no other family roots in the area, this is known as Local Connection. Local Councils and Housing Associations are able to place on their allocations policy the fact that military personnel and their families will not be given local connection to an area no matter how long they have lived there, unless they can prove they have a local connection to that area via family roots.


They are able to place this criterion into their allocations policy as the homelessness legislation also states this fact. I feel this criterion is offensive and discriminative to Her Majesty’s Forces. All military personnel and their families should be treated better by the government and also the homelessness legislation. I have placed a copy of the Homelessness Legislation and the Special Bulletin 2002 directly beneath this sentence.


Ex- Service Personnel 15.10 Under s.199(2) and (3), serving members of the armed forces, and other persons who normally live with them as part of their household, do not establish a local connection with a district by virtue of serving, or having served there while in the forces.


Homelessness Armed Forces
Act 2002 Special Bulletin Appendix 4, Page 135 Para 8.20 to 8.24.
The reason Act 2002 special bulletin will never work is due to the fact that whilst the housing association has to take into consideration the vulnerability of the applicant, they do not have to act on it.

At this present time all ex-service personnel who are rough sleeping in the United Kingdom are helped solely by charity organisations, the other fact is that if they don’t come from the area where they are homeless at, they will only be able to stay in sheltered accommodation for three days before being told to leave. All charities that assist ex-service personnel are trying to cure a governmental issue which should be prevented before armed forces personnel leave.

All members of the armed forces are taught to plan for future events, time appreciation. When it becomes necessary to require social housing, forward planning is not possible.
It should be in the interest of both the housing associations and the individual that permanent arrangements are in place as soon as possible. However two very important facts prevent this from ever coming to fruition.

Firstly, on your service tenancy running its full course, the family that is still in the military property will receive a county court judgement (CCJ). This will be held against that family’s name in the future.

Secondly, Housing Associations will not start to process your needs for housing until you have only 28 days remaining on your service tenancy. We are the only social group that can give the time, date and month of eviction from our dwellings. The real suffering that military families are made to endure due to the current system is a disgrace. The government and certain housing associations need to change to a fairer system of allocation.

The only way forward is for the government to change the system; this I feel, will prevent County Councils or Housing Associations from treating Armed Forces Personnel with such disdain. As the current Prime Minister once said, “We are in a changing world,� I believe he is correct in saying that however, the current system of local connection points for Armed Forces Personnel and their families stays the same. I have written several letters to the Prime Minister and have also been to 10 Downing Street to hand over a large file of evidence to prove how the current legislation affects military personnel and their families. The armed forces has set up outstanding pre-release courses, however these courses are near on useless if the trainee is unable to get housed.

I understand that the Royal Family are not permitted to get involved with the politics of running the country. This issue is about the mistreatment of your armed forces and their families, to that end I would be very grateful if this issue could be brought to the attention of the House of Lords.



Your ever obedient servant



Mr Nicholas Cxxxxxx
Colour Sergeant
1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets


P.S Would you like to see the reply from Buckingham Palace?;) Once the Petition has gone over 3000 signatures I will place it on here. Don't forget to email your MP's asking them to sign EDM 288. Tell others about this thread and get them involved as well.

Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Done (ex R.N)

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Thanks lads & lassies.
I was lucky as I was physically & mentally capable when I was made redundent.Servicemen like Hitback who are injured do not know what the future holds.Please keep up the support you have given us,we are eternally grateful.
Thanks,
Spike

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Done. served 13 years in the R.E.M.E i have a severely disabled son (the reason for leaving) it took 6 months to get a house.

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Thanks richie.
Why not pop over to arrse.co.uk if you have any problems or need advice or even a laff in the online NAAFI bar.
Spike

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

The following link will take you to the Royal British Legion campaign site. All you require to do is entre your post code and it will locate your MP for you. Once this done a pre-written message will be sent to your MP asking for their support towards EDM 288.

Here's the link http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/cont...g-513998.shtml

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Done :tu: Nice link :tu:

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

yes, good link - email sent :tu:

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

thanks spike will take a look

Re: Please help....
 

To back up what Gavin said,this is from todays paper;

LONDON (Reuters) - More than 40 percent of those in the armed forces with families live in sub-standard accommodation and some personnel will be based in poor quality housing for the next 20 years, a report said on Friday. The National Audit Office, the independent spending watchdog, said despite substantial amounts invested by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), more needed to be done to improve living
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conditions. "Praise is rightly bestowed on our armed forces for their achievements in very difficult circumstances," said Edward Leigh, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.
"It is not right that, here in the UK, they should have to put up with shabby living and working quarters."
The MoD is the second largest landowner in Britain and its worldwide estate is valued at 18 billion pounds.
But recently senior military figures have accused the government of not providing enough resources for troops, particularly citing out-of-date housing as a problem.
They warned that it could deter potential recruits from joining the armed services at a time when forces were stretched with operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In January Lieutenant General Freddie Viggers, who is in charge of housing, said there was too much accommodation that was old and of poor standard.
The month before, Britain's former top soldier General Sir Mike Jackson said some living quarters were "frankly shaming".
The NAO said nearly 28,000 homes for family accommodation -- about 60 percent -- were at the highest standard. However 19,000 still needed to be upgraded.
Investment would also mean that the number of single bed living quarters reaching the required standard would be 75,000 by the end of 2012. However that would still leave 35,000 sub-standard spaces.
"The scale of the remaining problem is, however, such that unless more resources can be found, a significant number of service personnel and their families are likely to be housed in poor quality accommodation for 20 years or more," the NAO said.
"With the exception of urgent operational requirements, the Department should give priority to work necessary to meet the terms of the contracts, to maintain and where necessary improve the quality of the estate."
The report also pointed out that in 2006-7 Defence Estates, the organisation responsible for improvements, had had to find savings of 13.5 million pounds in cuts or deferrals in planned maintenance or repair.
However despite this, the MoD spent 45 million on fire safety systems, sports, toilet and shower facilities.
"I ... am left wondering if resources are being targeted in the right way: while roofs are left to leak, money has been found to build new sports pitches," Leigh said.
The Ministry of Defence said it was committed to providing good quality housing to its personnel.
"We acknowledge that there are problems with some service accommodation, and are working hard to improve it," said Defence Minister Derek Twigg. "Over 5 billion pounds will be spent on service accommodation over the next decade."



But please look here.You will NOT find anything like this on any other forum.I am reduced to tears at each one;



http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/Forums/...c/t=42390.html

http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/Forums/...c/t=42397.html

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

The trouble is that so much services housing was sold off in the last 20 odd years.Even if they replace it all though it won't provide ex-servicemen and women with a home after their duty finishes.


My husband and I own our own home because as a the child of an exserviceman and as a teacher I was determined to have my own house..I knew what it was like for servicemen when leaving the services. My father didn't own his own home until he was 45..a year later he died of a heart condition brought about by the malaria he caught whilst on active service in WW11 in Burma.IF he had died whilst living in service accommodation my mother would have been on the streets.

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Done and email sent to local MP

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

The fact that so many service families don't understand the issues around social housing or the reality of civilian life. I would say life in the armed forces is very well cacooned and welfare needs are looked after. I have lived in service accommodation for over 40 years. As a child for 17 years and in the Infantry for 23 years. The house's I have lived in over that time haven't changed that much really, some have heating now but the decor is something else. The information I've provide below should show how inept this countries political master have been.

I asked Mark Harper MP. The Shadow Defence Minister, where the £1.6 Billion went when Service Family Housing was sold to Annington Homes Plc. I was told £100 million was placed to one side for refurbishment of homes being rented back, the rest went to the Exchequer. The other thing I would like to point out is. The Exchequer made £100 million between 1996 and 2004 in a shared profits agreement with Annington Homes. This figure now is well in excess of £100 million. My next question to Mark Harper MP Was, 30 plus % of property bought from Annington Homes was Armed Forces personnel, why is the profit shared agreement not given back to those service personnel as a discount, greater than the present 1% for every full ten years serviced thats on offer at present. He was unable to answer, as his party was not in power.


Please keep Emailing your MPs asking them to sign EDM 288, us the links. The Petition still requires signatures as well. The following link will take you to the Royal British Legion campaign site. All you require to do is entre your post code and it will locate your MP for you. Once this done a pre-written message will be sent to your MP asking for their support towards EDM 288.

The following link will take you to the Royal British Legion campaign site. All you require to do is entre your post code and it will locate your MP for you. Once this done a pre-written message will be sent to your MP asking for their support towards EDM 288.

Here's the link http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/cont...g-513998.shtml

Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Those that have emailed their MP's should of got a reply by now. If you haven't then please write them a letter asking why they have ignored your request. The Tory Party has twice the number of MP's backing this EDM in comparison to the Labour Party, is it because this government doesn't care about our needs?

This link will give you your MP's name and send a letter asking them to support EDM 288.
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/cont...g-513998.shtml

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Done :)

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

I got mail undelivered...Perhaps my MP has again failed to empty his inbox...:rolleyes:

I know he's a busy man..the amount of photo opportunities he attends..pity it's not the HOC.:rolleyes:

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

If you place your MP's name on here I will try and get you their email address via another source.

Regards

Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Chaps & Chapesses,
Hitback will be leaving the Army on 31st March.
Please join with me in wishing Hitback & his family all the best in whatever the future holds.
Thanks Hitback from all here at Cable Forum.
Spike

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Peter Viggers.Actually if I look I'm bound to find his email address on the next photo opportunistic newsletter he issues...If there isn't one hanging around already.

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,,-5321,00.html
or
http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do...&personID=4898

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Thanks Paul..;)

I know I had a copy of his newsletter at the beginning of the month that I did put to one side..but someone seems to have chucked it...:rolleyes:

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Hi all, The EDM has had another MP sign up today and the petition is going well. The Labour Party has been very slow to act on this issue, however their quick enough to send our soldiers to war! If you have a Labour MP as your constitunecy Minister then please email them via the Royal British Legion link on this thread. once they send you a reply please place it on here for others to read and act upon.


Dont forget about the Petition, which you can sign to show your support.

Regards

Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Chaps,
With Hitbacks help,we have came up with a poster.
Please please please print it off & ask your local RBL branch,Ex-Services club,pub,resturant whoever to display it!
Link to poster

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g3...upmodified.jpg

Thanks,
Spike

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2007/03/11.jpg

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Good luck Hitback I hope it all goes well for you and your family :tu:

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Hitback, Have just had a response to my e-mail to my MP Beverley Hughes. Sorry couldn't work out how to show it other than this way:-

HOUSE OF COMMONS
LONDON SW1A OAA

The Rt. Hon. Beverley Hughes MP

28 March 2007

Urmston
Manchester
M41

Dear

Thank you very much for your e-mail of the 19~ March expressing your concerns
about the provision of social housing for servicemen and women leaving our Armed
Forces.

I have to explain that as a Government Minister, I am unable to sign Early Day
Motions as these are mechanisms reserved for back bench Members of Parliament.
However, I appreciate you letting me know your concerns and have written to the
Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence for his comments on the matter.

As soon as I am in receipt of a substantive response I will, of course, get back to
you.
Regards and best wishes

Yours sincerely

Bev Hughes

Beverley Hughes MP
Labour Member of Parliament for Stretford and Urmston

Tel: 0161 749 9120
Fax: 0161 749 9121
Email :mcdona1ds(~parliament.uk; lathwoodr®parliament.uk

I will post the substantive response as soon as I get it.

Jo

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Thanks Jo,
That's just about what we've come to expect from our Gov.
I've posted your reply in the Current Affairs & Charities board on our army website, www.arrse.co.uk.
Thanks again Jo,
Regards,
Spike

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Well Mr Peter Viggers MP has received one of my emails because I too have had a letter from him which is also on House of Commons paper.

Peter Viggers says he has signed EDM 288. :tu:

He also states that he has been I'm pleased to hear this as a good many of his constituents have been, are and will be servicemen as the town of Gosport has had very long associations with all branches of the services.

Sadly we have lost the battle for HMH Haslar but I think this is an even more important battle that can be won.:tu:

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

The EDM has now reached 200 signatures and the Petition continues to grow. To all those that have had a reply from their MPs, well done for pushing them. This issue will be upsetting some MPs, but at least we have got them to address the issue and its affects on service leavers and Veterans. Please keep up the great work and keep the site informed of any movement by your MP on this issue.

Regards

Hitback

Royal British Legion web letter sent to MPs
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/cont...g-513998.shtml

Petition Form
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/forceshousing/

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

I would also like to echo Hitback comments & say Thank you to all who are behind us.With luck we can change the way we can be treated when leaving the services.
Thank you all!!

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Any more news?

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

I'm waiting for the DCLG to give me the information I requested 5 weeks ago. If you remember they are trying to prevent me getting hold of it under certain laws. However, If they stop me from acquiring the said info them I believe it would make a great news story. ;) I shall keep you all updated, but please keep ask friends and family to email their MPs asking them to support our Armed Forces and Veterans by signing EDM 288 and placing their names on the Petition.


Regards

Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

I believe the House is open tomorrow and our Political Master will be back to work! If we could get those emails ready to send and hit them on there first day back that would be great. My understanding was, they were getting an awful lot of emails on this issue which made them sit up and listen. There are Local election coming up soon, so lets get them to back us on this issue.

The DCLG has failed to meet its dead line, I will email them tomorrow asking for the information again! If they fail to reply I will contact the complaints department.


Regards

hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

This is an interesting point being made by an observer. The House of Commons resumes on the 16th of this month, so get those email ready to send.

Regards

Hitback

This is how a recent commentator described the predicament of a significant number of ex-service personnel who find themselves without any affordable accommodation on leaving the services. The homeless predicament often leads onto jobless status because of their homeless status and in time the break up of their marriage.
Many are young service personnel who have been discharged with mental and physical wounds and have not had time to get into the housing market but are discriminated against when applying for social housing. Service personnel on discharge are not given affinity points like civilians who gain these points for living in a particular area. Service personnel are allowed no points because of their itinerate life style, a life style imposed on them in the service of their country.
The legislation is unfair and especially so with forces personnel engaged in two wars and with an ever increasing tempo of active service operations. The British Armed Forces Federation, The Royal British Legion and the Army Families Federation are all involved with this campaign to amend the current legislation so that ex-forces personnel are given the same opportunity when applying for social housing as any civilian, no more or no less. However, until the current housing legislation is changed it is patently unfair in its present form.
We need the help of all service personnel, their family, and friends in supporting an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons in order to get the legislation changed. Please go to the Royal British Legion link at the bottom of this page, it finds your MP, writes the letter and all you have to do is send it! There is an old parliamentary saying ‘the door that squeaks gets the attention! We all need to squeak!
We need your help, go on the link or copy this and send it to family and friends. It only takes a couple of minutes.

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/cont...g-513626.shtml

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

My intentions are to advice service peronnel on the pit falls of buying a house in the present climate. As was placed in the national papers today, some people are taking out mortgages over 9 time their earnings.

The following is something I read recently, "Ignorance is nothing to be ashamed off - But its nothing to be proud off either!

The following was sent to me today by the Shadow Defence Minister. It's the Tory Parties state of the nation report that was launched this week. As you will see they cover the area of home ownership amongst service personnel and their future look forward. The document is very long so I have placed just a small amount on here. If anyone would like the full document then please email me.


Regards

Hitback

Forces Families Mark Harper MP

In the Army, three quarters of personnel live in Army accommodation. In the ranks home ownership is just 9%.

Housing and accommodation

The Ministry of Defence currently manages 49,000 service family and 150,00single living units, making it Britain's largest property manager. The quality of this accommodation is graded on a four point scale. Most of the Service Families Accommodation (SFA) is in the top two grades. However, half of all Single Living Accommodation (SLA) is of the worst standard (see table 1). This problem has been highlighted recently by the media and, in an interview, the Adjutant General, Lt Gen Viggers said “there is still too much accommodation
which is of a poor standard, and is old and is not modern in terms of the way that is fitting for the families. In the 2006 Continuous Attitudes Survey just 40% of soldiers were satisfied with their Army accommodation.

It is not fair to expect our forces to come home from the many operations that they are being asked to undertake to accommodation that most people would find unacceptable. This problem is particularly acute in the Army, where a much higher proportion of personnel are housed in service accommodation (see table 2).

Table 1: MoD Accommodation by grade
Grade Service Families Accommodation (SFA)--Single Living Accommodation (SLA)
1 (good) 27,687 (59%)------------------------------- --- 24,254 (18%)
2 16,916 (36%)---------------------------------------------23,261 (17%)
3 2,089 (4%)------------------------------------------------22,931 (17%)
4 (bad) 139 (1%)-------------------------------------------66,836 (48%)

Total 46,831 137,282

To address this issue there are two things that need to be done. First, and most simply, the quality of accommodation needs to be improved. To be fair to the Government, some progress is being made here. Project SLAM is modernising the SLA, costing some £480 million in the first five years; a further £335 million will be spent in the years 2008/09 to 2012/139. This will upgrade a total of 13,000 single living spaces. The MoD currently intends to upgrade SFA accommodation at a rate of about 900 units a year. At these rates it
will takes decades to get the accommodation up the standards that we would expect, and they must still be maintained at this standard. A recent NAO report noted that “a significant number of Service personnel and their families are likely to be housed in poor quality accommodation for 20 years or more”. We will investigate whether the upgrading process can be accelerated, and at what cost.

The second option is to improve the proportion of service personnel who actually live in and own their own homes. At present only 9% of Army soldiers live in and own their home (compared to 18% of officers)11; 64% of other ranks in the Army have never owned their own home (just 25% for officers). Table 2 shows the proportion of each service occupying service accommodation.

Table 2: Proportion of personnel living in Service accommodation
Service Number paying accommodation charges--Total strength of service Percentage
Royal Navy 14,627------------------------------------------------------39,390 37
Army 78,902-----------------------------------------------------107,703 73
RAF 27,908-----------------------------------------------------48,730 57

The problem that personnel face is that it is very difficult to get onto the housing ladder. When accommodation is already provided, the incentive to buy a home, with all the risks that this involves is not great. However, when a colour sergeant, for example, leaves the Army at the age of 40 he or she does not want to consider getting their first mortgage. In the Continuous Attitudes Survey 37% of responding officers were either fairly or very dissatisfied
with the prospects for buying or even renting a house. This rose to 42% for other ranks. Some service families are leaving the forces and going into hostels. At present local authorities do not need to consider forces families as having a ‘local connection’ for the purposes of social housing. The Conservative Party will investigate if this system can be developed in a way that will support service personnel, but not place an unacceptable burden
on local communities.

The MoD does currently provide a Long Service Advance of Pay (LSAP) worth up to £8,500. This does not go very far in the current housing market and it has failed to keep up with the rise in house prices. This is further compounded by the fact that the LSAP cannot be used to buy properties that are then rented out. This rule is, reasonably, in place to stop personnel using the allowance for their own profit, but it also means that personnel with a high mobility can never take advantage of the scheme and make it onto the housing ladder. These rules need to be reviewed. We will look at ways in which we can encourage and support personnel to get onto the
housing ladder while still serving so that, when they do leave, they have a home and base from which they can start their new life.

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Still no information from the DCLG, I have been informed that they will get a response to me by the 7th May. Just happens to be at the end of the Local Elections! Vote against the Labour Party and make them suffer.

Regards

Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Is it a party related issue, sorry to be thick, were the forces service men and women better off under someone else ? Genuine question, as I said, I'm :dunce: :)

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

This thread's just reminded me... I never did get a reply from my MP to the email I sent about this :td:

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Actually service personel have always been served poorly in this matter..By both parties across many years.

It seems that when a soldier is on the other side of the world winning battles he's a hero but as soon as he's back on home ground wounded and without work or home he's a nuisance to be shuffled away out of sight. All too many have ended up living on the streets across the last 50 odd years because of this particular hole in the social services net and because they have not always been afforded good councelling about returning to civvy street before they finish their service.It's a huge shock to single personel who've been somewhat cosseted about the realities of civilian life for 6,12,22 years by the institution that has employed them..

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

The fact that one Party is looking into the issues affecting service personnel and their families is good news. The issue about the shortage of equipment and the lack of medical care has been going on for at least 11 years plus. It's not just a Labour Party mistake, other parties have been just as neglectful in the past. However we have soldiers fighting in two conflicts at present. The mistakes that have been made in the past are coming back to bite the present government.

The one big area thats being ignored at present is mental health. PTSD will become a real big problem over the next five years. What ever government is in power requires to formulate an action plan to help sufferers.


Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

DCLG has informed me that they have posted the information, requested over three months ago!. I will up date this site on the information I recieve.

Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Keep us posted :tu:

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

The information from the DCLG turned up today. It has lots of black pen through it, but I have noticed by some of the information that there is a consensus there needs to be changes made. Its been down to all of you that have taken part, and, I hope continue to take part in this campaign, that will force those in power to amend the legislation in due course. We all require to continue to send emails to our MPs asking them why 199(2)and (3) is so important now days, is it correct that the Immigrations Department should be permitted to take 10% of Social Housing stock. This stock is in great need for those people already resident in this country?

Regards

Hitback

P.S Some of the information I received is from web site forums.

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

As you will see from the following information there are moves a foot, however the time scale is very slow. At least someone understands that local areas with a military presents do benefit from their locations. The data that was being put together was being limited to the following locations; Aldershot (Army), Brize Norton (RAF), Catterick (Army), Colchester (Army) Plymouth (Royal Navy),, Tidworth (Army), Warminster (Army). The following location have been dispensed with; Brize Norton, Lineham, Plymouth, Portsmouth, HMS Collingwood. Their understanding is this is not such an issue with the RAF and the Royal Navy. I beg to differ, this issue affects all service personnel? They were also looking for more locations to exclude from the data being requested. Once again we see the government trying to paste over the cracks. Its very important at this early stage, that the correct number of service personnel and families being discriminated by Housing Association etc is formulated correctly, must include all locations. The other point I would like to make is, What about future locations for Super Garrisons. The local infranstructors will become hugh all built up by service families and single personnel!

Its the legislation that requires to change not pep talks to some HAs and Councils.

Plymouth has by all accounts included in the data but I'm not sure. None of the data has come with this FOI from the DCLG.


Regards

Hitback

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2007/04/4.jpg

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

The fact that only 9% of service personnel own property, should get those in the MoD and DCLG thinking of a strategic plan to help. The current schemes are failing due to the lack of investment by those in power. I mentioned on here before about those suffering from PTSD, its now hit the news headlines that the number of service personnel suffering has increased by 50% in the past year. If these soldiers are discharged and have to arrange their own future housing needs, then there will be an increase of homeless veterans. If the Government is able to pool 10% of social housing for immigration then why not the same for medically discharged service personnel?


Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

I have 96 pages of information from the DCLG. The following is of interest and looks at the wording of the Homelessness Legislation. The first entry by the JSHAO sums up the lack of knowledge service personnel have about their future housing needs in civvie street. It would be interesting to know the % of service personnel that aren't getting out of the forces that attend the Housing Options briefings. These briefings are mostly attended by service leavers, aren't they?

That's why I believe it's very important to have a greater spread of briefings at all military locations. As said before, they could be attached to the CDT Teams that visit all military location at least once a year.

Regards

Hitback

P.S You can still sign the Petition by using the link at the bottom. Thank you.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24 Nov 06

We come across lots of people that are under the misapprehension that Time in Service Accommodation establishes a local connection particularly at our Housing Options briefings.

This is further complicated by the fact that a minority of local authorities do acknowledge that lengthy periods in the same location qualify or at least accumulate points on Housing Needs Registers. Some will recognise time spent in SFA but only as an irregular and normally only if you have been an IO for more than 6 months.

The irony is of course that with key worker status an individual could now establish a local connection and purchase a property through NewBuild HomeBuy. A colleague who could not afford HomeBuy would leave without a local connection.

I do however have a great deal of sympathy with local authorities. The rules as they stand at present (first promulgated in DE circular 14/93) are designed to spread the load - the alternative would put huge demands on what in some cases are small local authorities

I think we should tread carefully, we run the risk of upsetting some local authorities big time and losing what little good will we currently have.

OIC JSHAO
HQ Land Command
Wilton
Salisbury
Tel: 01722'


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H6@defence.gsi.gov.uk> 30/11/06 10:28:41 >»

I am currently gathering evidence for you , but in the interim have a look at xxxxxx attached email . It articulates the peculiarities that exist with eligibility of granting Key Worker Status that I previously discussed with you. By simple default of KW status eligibility - local connection has already been established. So I am really confused as to why accruing local connection points whilst living in an area whilst still serving, is so difficult to sustain with DCLG.

Not withstanding xxxxxxx other comments about flooding local authorities - I come back to the same point that I made during our first meeting in that this is about parity of treatment - regardless of how long somebody has to wait for accommodation to become available when they leave the Services, they should start as equal to the rest of society. In other words create a level playing field before personnel leave the Armed forces.
Suggest we meet to see how we can take this forward. What is your diary like for the 14 Dec?


AD Housing 020

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Frances Walker

Sent: 10 January 2007 17:38

Subject: Re: Local conection

Thanks for your email and sorry to take a while to get back to you. I am afraid that I did not pick up till now your offer to meet in December. I did not mean to be rude and am certainly very happy to do so now, if this would be helpful. My diary is relatively free at the moment.
I wonder whether it would help if I try to clarify the position on the allocation of social housing and local connection. I am not sure whether we are at cross-purposes to some extent.

When it comes to letting social rented housing, local authorities (LAs) must comply with part 6 of the Housing Act 1996. This was revised by the Homelessness Act 2002 -which came into effect in Jan 2003. Prior to the 2002 Act amendments, LAs could decide who qualified to go on their register. They would often impose residency qualifications, or a local connection.

As a result of the 2002 Act amendments, LAs can no longer set their own qualification criteria. Anyone is eligible to go on the housing waiting list, except certain persons from abroad and people guilty of unacceptable behaviour. However, the allocation legislation allows but does not require LAs to take into account certain factors in determining between people in the "reasonable preference" categories. The reasonable preference categories are those people who should be given priority for social housing. The allocation legislation gives examples of the sort of factors which could be taken into account, including -

"any local connection (within the meaning of section 199 [of the 1996 Act]) which exists between a person and the authority's district".

Section 199 is part of the homelessness legislation and provides -

"(1) A person has a local connection with the district of a local housing authority if he has a connnection with it -

(a) because he is, or in the past was, normally resident there, and that residence is or was of his own choice,

(b) because he is employed there

-------I believe some information may have been removed from here?

(2) A person is not employed in a district if he is serving in the regular armed forces of the Crown.

(3) Residence in a district is not of a person's own choice if -

(a) he becomes resident there because he, or a person who might reasonably be expected to reside with him, is serving in the regular armed forces of the Crown

------- I believe some information may have been removed from here?

I thought it might be worth setting out the above, so that you are clear that the definition of "local connection" in the allocations context is set out in statute - it is not simply a matter of what DCLG can or cannot sustain. This provides that service personnel do not have a local connection through employment or residence of choice, where they are serving in the armed forces. If the Government wanted to change this, a change to the primary legislation would be required.

Having said that, LAs do not have to take into account local connection in determining priorities. Where they do so, this will have to be clearly stated in their allocation scheme. Also, even if they do take into account local connection, the fact that a serviceman or woman may not be able to demonstrate that he has one -

- will not make him/her ineligible
- will not necessarily mean that he/she has no priority.

It will simply mean that he has less priority than someone who does have a local connection. However, clearly in very high demand areas this could mean that he/she has little chance of being housed until he/she has acquired such a connection (in other words until he/she has found other employment or lived there for a certain amount of time after leaving the armed forces).

I have just written to the LAs which house the larger military establishments (you kindly sent me the list) to try to find out what their allocation scheme provides, and for any data they can give me about service personnel on the waiting list and/or allocated accommodation. I am attaching copy of the letter. Hopefully, this may give some idea of the extent of the issue.

suggests in his email, there is a sound policy rationale for the local connection provisions as they relate to servicemen. In the allocations context, this is to avoid creating disproportionate pressure on waiting lists in those districts which host military bases and at the expense of other residents of the district. Any proposal to change the legislation in the allocations context could well generate strong localised opposition.

I am afraid that I am a little bit puzzled by the reference to key worker status and NewBuild HomeBuy. I am not sure how someone would establish a "local connection" in this context and, even if this were a relevant for NB HB, what effect this would have on the statutory provisions which govern local connection in the allocations context. Could you explain a bit more? I am probably being a bit dim.

Sorry for the length of this email. Look forward to hearing from you.

Frances

Frances
Social Housing Management Branch
DCLG
020

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 Jan 07


Frances

Thank you for this. Your email confirms my understanding of the housing Act. It is item 2 of Section'199 that I am wanting to remove. Service families can be posted into an area for virtually the whole of their career so from their perspective they are fundamentally contributing to the community - Council tax , supporting and contributing towards the local economy , spouse employment, dependants in education etc. I just want a level playing field for them to accrue points as everybody else who resides and works in that locality.

I have also been collecting data which I will send later. This will give an indication of likely numbers and geographical spread.
think it would be useful for us to speak , I am free 23, 25,26 Jan

AD Housing
SpPol 020721M

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

The Petition has now ended. Thank you to all those that added their names. The EDM is now the main direction of this campaign so please email your MP asking him/ her to support our armed forces service leavers and veterans. This issue has been on the table for 30 years and those in power over that time have ignored it. We need to get this legislation changed once and for all.


Regards

hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

The EDM has now got 215 MPs pledged to it. The last group of five are Labour MPs! Seeing as they are in power lets hope they do something about this disgraceful legislation.

It's all down to the pressure brought to bear on our political masters by all of you that have emailed their MPs. If you haven't read the start of this issue then here is a quick synopsis;

The current Homelessness Legislation discriminates against service personnel and their families. It puts us at a distinct disadvantage when competing with civilians for Social Housing /Housing Associations. An early day motion is currently being signed by MPs which if carried, will help change this legislation, but we need more of them to sign it if we are to get the government to take notice. We now need your support to get this through. Go to the link at the bottom to send a Royal British Legion pre-written email to your MP asking them to support our armed forces.

If you wish to read the EDM and view which MPs have already signed, then go to the first link at the bottom of my threads.

Thank you for all your support.

Regards

Hitback

List of MPs that have signed EDM 288.:angel:
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDe...05&SESSION=885

Royal British Legion Short Cut to send a letter to your MP.;)
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/cont...g-513998.shtml

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

The following letter has been sent to my MP Mrs Nadine Dorries Mid Beds. I shall keep this site and all the others updated on it outcome.

Hitback



Dear Nadine,

I am writing to you to ask if you could organise a meeting with myself and Mr Cameron. I would like to discuss with him the problems en-counted by service leavers under the current Homelessness Legislation 199(2)and (3). As your EDM 288 points out it has an averse affect on those that have served their country and that's not acceptable. The information I received from the DCLG and the MoD shows this issue does have an adverse affect and should be addressed, however, they are also playing with words and not doing anything to move forward.

The armed forces are feeling betrayed by our politicians at present and the covenant has been broken between those that serve and the countries people. As you are aware I have already spoken with Mark Harper MP about this but I believe it requires to be addressed by the leader of his party and I hope the future leader of this country. The website I've been running this issue on have had about 200,000 pings and service news letters have been covering it as well. I talk with many service personnel and their families as well TA soldiers and they feel that the current legislation is a disgraceful act by a countries government.

I also understand that Mr Cameron is a very busy person with lots to cover as the opposition party leader, but this is an issue that affects many service leavers and their families which requires his time and up most attention. I believe those that serve in Her Majesty's Armed Forces will see his support a good reason for electing his party in the next general election.

If more information is required on this issue then please email me or Peter could back brief on whats been going on and the issue in general.

Kind Regards

Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

The fact we in the armed forces pay class one tax whilst in the services. The issue of food is rubbish, most locations are on pay as you dine, so no more perks there. Accommodation charges are moving in line with Social Housing rents in their local areas. OB, all we are asking for is to be treated the same, we have earnt that right!! Haven't we?

This is some MPs from my list that have not signed EDM 288. If we could send an email to as many as possible that would be great. I will place another list up here next week.

If you get a reply or notice one of the names below on the EDM then please inform us on the site.

To get an idea of what EDM 288 is about, please click on the link at the bottom of this entry.

Regards

Hitback

Smith, Ms Angela C. (Lab) * Sheffield, Hillsborough http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/586.html

Smith, Angela E. (Lab/Co-op) Basildon http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/189.html

Stunell, Andrew (LD) Hazel Grove http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/498.html

Simmonds, Mark (Con) Boston & Skegness http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/473.html

Sheridan, Jim (Lab) Paisley & Renfrewshire North http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/835.html

Sheerman, Mr Barry (Lab/Co-op) Huddersfield http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/399.html

Shaw, Jonathan (Lab) Chatham & Aylesford http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/229.html

Swinson, Jo (LD) * East Dunbartonshire http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/830.html

Teather, Sarah (LD) Brent East http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/303.html

Williams, Stephen (LD) * Bristol West http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/114.html

Younger-Ross, Richard (LD) Teignbridge http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/326.html

Reid, Mr Alan (LD) Argyll & Bute http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/822.html

Rennie, Willie (LD) * Dunfermline & West Fife http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/821.html

Robathan, Mr Andrew (Con) Blaby http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/460.html (Ex Army)

Ruddock, Joan (Lab) Lewisham, Deptford http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/604.html

Ruane, Chris (Lab) Vale of Clwyd http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/175.html

Ryan, Joan (Lab) Enfield North http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/319.html

Roy, Mr Frank (Lab) Motherwell & Wishaw http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/836.html

Rammell, Bill (Lab) Harlow http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/185.html

Randall, Mr John (Con) Uxbridge http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/396.html

Redwood, Rt Hon John (Con) Wokingham http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/571.html

Plaskitt, Mr James (Lab) Warwick & Leamington http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/35.html

Pope, Mr Greg (Lab) Hyndburn http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/59.html

Prentice, Bridget (Lab) Lewisham East http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/105.html

Purchase, Mr Ken (Lab/Co-op) Wolverhampton North East http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/655.html

Purnell, James (Lab) Stalybridge & Hyde http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/547.html

Osborne, Mr George (Con) Tatton http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/221.html

O'Brien, Mr Stephen (Con) Eddisbury http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/172.html

O'Brien, Mr Mike (Lab) North Warwickshire
http://www.mikeobrien.org.uk/ Please call his main office.

Munn, Meg (Lab/Co-op) Sheffield, Heeley http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/583.html

McNulty, Mr Tony (Lab) Harrow East http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/393.html

McDonnell, John (Lab) Hayes & Harlington http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/643.html

McCabe, Stephen (Lab) Birmingham, Hall Green http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/24.html

Lammy, Mr David (Lab) Tottenham http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/513.html

Lewis, Mr Ivan (Lab) Bury South http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/88.html

Ladyman, Dr Stephen (Lab) South Thanet http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/204.html

Luff, Peter (Con) Mid Worcestershire http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/38.html

Lucas, Ian (Lab) Wrexham http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/465.html

Love, Mr Andy (Lab/Co-op) Edmonton http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/320.html

Lloyd, Tony (Lab) Manchester Central http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/483.html

Linton, Martin (Lab) Battersea http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/623.html

Levitt, Tom (Lab) High Peak http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/588.html

Hunter, Mark (LD) * Cheadle http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/494.html

Howells, Dr Kim (Lab) Pontypridd http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/160.html

Hope, Phil (Lab/Co-op) Corby http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/463.html

Harris, Mr Tom (Lab) Glasgow South http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/832.html

Hague, Rt Hon William (Con) Richmond (Yorks) http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/261.html (He has refused to sign, RAF constituenets have asked him)

Hall, Patrick (Lab) Bedford http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/508.html

Goggins, Paul (Lab) Wythenshawe & Sale East http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/493.html

Gidley, Sandra (LD) Romsey http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/576.html

Follett, Barbara (Lab) Stevenage http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/16.html

Flynn, Paul (Lab) Newport West http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/155.html

Eagle, Angela (Lab) Wallasey http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/177.html

Eagle, Maria (Lab) Liverpool, Garston http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/446.html

Ennis, Jeff (Lab) Barnsley East & Mexborough http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/268.html

Davey, Mr Edward (LD) Kingston & Surbiton http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/email/l/429.html

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Frank Roy you might get a reply from next year, after he stops partying with his Rangers top on.

Motherwell and Wishaw is supposed to be Jack McConnell's constituency, but lo and behold wee fat Frank somehow is in charge.

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Dabhand, Maybe you could email Fat Frank and ask why he is holding the seat, whist your at it, ask him to sign EDM 288 Please. G Galloway has signed Respect.

List of MPs signed up for EDM 288.
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDe...05&SESSION=885

The RBL sends your message click on link.
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/cont...g-513998.shtml

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

My first reply today from Mr Goggins. If you know anyone that lives in his constituency of "Wythenshawe and Sale East" then please ask them to email him via the Royal British Legion Link below.

Regards

Hitback

Thank you for your email.

As a Minister, Mr Goggins is not able to sign EDMs and due to strict
parliamentary convention he is only able to offer assistance to
constituents.

If you live in Wythenshawe and Sale East Mr Goggins would be very happy
to help.


RBL shortcut Link
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/cont...g-513998.shtml

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

The Government has now replied to the "Forceshousing" online petition:

http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page11734.asp

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Thank you for that Matt D. At least they have stated they will be looking into the Legislation (Local Connection Rule) that only affects service leavers and prisoners of course.

We still require people to email the MPs above and ask them to support EDM 288. If we keep the pressure on, we should see change sooner rather than later.

Regards
Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Again thanks for that Matt D.
This is a important issue & I for one am so glad of your support!Hopefully,we can end the discrimination forced upon myself,Hitback & so many others like us.
Many thanks again!!

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

They sent me an e mail with that link in it, lets hope it works ;)

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Hello,

I've only just see this thread and would like to sign whatever, so what links would i need as i would also put these on a forum,(Army forum i visit).

Also for the ex RAF, you need a petition for a lifetime supply of slippers for when you leave;)

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Here's one :)

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/cont...g-513998.shtml

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Sollp the petition has now ended but you can always email your MP asking them to sign the EDM 288. This can be done via the link given to you by Matt D.

The following is the reply I got back from Mr Camerons PA. I have phoned his office in the HoC and asked about a meeting on this issue as well as send some questions that I would like some answers to. The questions are directly below.


Regards

Hitback

Questions

a. What happened to the 2.6 billion from the sale of SFA to Annington Homes Plc?
b. Why is the profit shared agreement lining the pockets of the exchequer, when service personnel only get 1% for every full 10 years served?
c. What amendments will his party carry out on the Homelessness Legislation 199(2)and(3) if they become the government of the day?



Dear Nick,



Thank you for writing to David Cameron – I am replying on his behalf.



We are grateful to you for taking the time to email regarding the housing and welfare of service leavers. We have carefully noted your concerns and have taken on board the points that you have made.



This is an issue the Conservative Party take very seriously indeed. Both David and members of the Shadow Defence Team have spoken out about this and David has Brize Norton in his constituency which means he has a particular interest in the welfare of forces personnel and families.



David has promised to draw up a special manifesto for Britain ’s Armed Forces families in order to support people “who do so much for us”. For more information please visit the following link; http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do...&obj_id=136244



Once again, thank you for your email.



Yours sincerely,

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

One more to add to the list.

Dear Hitback

Peter has asked me to thank you for drawing EDM 288 to his attention to which he is more than happy to add his name and lend his support.


Kind regards,

Thomas Lyon

Parliamentary Researcher to Peter Luff MP (Mid Worcestershire)

Chairman of the Trade and Industry Select Committee

House of Commons

London SW1A 0AA

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

I found this whilst re-searching for the Social Housing Campaign. I know its very long winded but it must be read. The points being made about Annington as well service accommodation is a little shocking. An example is some SFA is being done up to hand back to Annington Homes Plc to a higher standard than some Service Families are living in. The issue of service personnel getting first refusal on property is contradicted throughout this House of Commons minutes of evidence. Taken Before Defence Committee. The Work of Defence Estates Tuesday 15 May 2007.


http://www.publications.parliament.u...er_first_match

Regards

Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

I've just tried emailing my MP again via the British Legion link (David Howarth, Lib. Dem., Cambridge), seeing as he never replied when I tried a few months ago or whenever.

Kept the standard text, & just added a personal bit at the start.

Seems to have an error of some sort though at the moment - kept failing to send, said there was no recipient even though there was :confused:


As the British Legion form didn't work for me, I used http://www.writetothem.com/ to send it instead.

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Thanks for that Matt D.

elovabloke has this linky for you,


info@davidhowarth.org.uk

Spike

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

I now have a reply from Mr Camerons office about a meeting.


Dear Hitback,

Many thanks for your further email. Sadly David’s diary is incredibly busy over the forthcoming months and unfortunately he is unable to meet everyone he would like to.


I will however forward your email on to Mark Harper MP, Shadow Defence Minister and ask him to get in touch with you about this.



Regards,


Axxx Bxxxx

Correspondence Secretary

David Cameron's Office

House of Commons

London

SW1A 0AA

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

The Royal British Legion link is now working.

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

I had an email last week from David Howarth's "Casework Assistant" informing me that he'd received my email & would bring it to David Howarth's attention.

I now have a signed letter on House of Commons stationary from Mr David Howarth MP, thanking me for my email, & informing me that he has signed EDM 288 as I asked :)

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

The simple fact that only 9% of other ranks 18% and of officers own their own property. This should be a good sign there is an issue to be addressed.

May be better education on their future housing needs outside the forces, if thats by the JSHAO or by other means, I don't care. However it requires to be done sooner rather than later.

The whole point of this campaign is to change the Homelessness Legislation, it currently discriminates against those that have served their country by being in the Armed Forces.

The point made about arguing between his or her's home location for attaining a "Local Connections" is not correct. There are some Districts that wipe their hands of people that have been away for some time. (Posted personnel also included).

In a Continuous Attitude Survey 37% of responding Officers were either fairly or very disatisfied with the prospects for buying or even renting a house. This rose to 42% for other ranks. There are some service families leaving and going into Hostel Accommodation for some time. In some areas this could be up to 2 years.

Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

I can't believe the amount of effort this has taken, it's obviously flawed, unfair legislation, yet it has taken this much work and suffering to even get this far, politicians, they make me want to puke

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

This is my recent reply from another MP. As you can see it does work, all you have to do is contact them and ask them to support EDM 288.

Dear Hitback,



Thank you for taking the time to write to me. I appreciate your concern at the difficulties faced by those leaving the armed forces in obtaining social housing, and I understand your wish to see action taken by the Government to address this issue.



You are right in saying that I do not need to be your MP in order to sign Early Day Motion 288 if I agree with the contents of this, and I am pleased to inform that I have indeed added my signature to this motion, to note the important contribution of the armed forces and to raise my concerns about the housing problems many servicemen and women and their families are experiencing.



You can view the motion, currently signed by 221 MPs, by following this link http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDe...05&SESSION=885 and my signature should appear on this following the current Parliamentary recess. I will encourage my colleagues to add their signatures and I hope that the motion will continue to gain support and prompt the Government to action to review housing allocation policy to address the problems faced by former members of the armed forces.



Thank you again for getting in touch, and I hope that you will receive useful responses from the other Members you have contacted in connection with this issue.



Yours sincerely,



Jo Swinson MP







Jo Swinson MP

East Dunbartonshire

Tel: 0141

Fax: 0141

Email: swinsonj@parliament.uk

Web: www.joswinson.org.uk

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

this is disgracful. if you'd been in prison for a few years and come out would you be forced to wait 7 years for council accomodation?

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Looks like it:
http://www.jrf.org.uk/knowledge/find...using/H178.asp

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

The increase of ex-forces personnel going to prison has increased greatly. The RBL and other forces charities are visiting prisons more often than ever before. Ex-Prisoners are also under the same part of the legislation 199. However I feel that's incorrect to place those that have served, in the same category as offenders.

If there is such a shortage of Social Housing stock, and there really is shortage, Why the hell are we allowing so many people into the country?

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

My email to Mr Cameron and his office's response. I believe what they are saying to me is; This is a very small issue so please don't bother the leader of the Party!



Dear Mr Cameron,



I telephoned your office in London on the 8th May and asked if Mr Cameron would please reply to my email. I was informed by a member of his staff that his office would give me an answer to the meeting.



I served 23 years in Her Majesty's' Armed Forces and I can safely say that all of us that served under a Conservative Party had it a lot better than under the Labour Party. The only real mistake was selling on the SFA to Annington Homes Plc, but the profit shared agreement that still stands could and should be addressed by his party. The exchequer between 1997 and 2004 made over 100 million pounds, whilst those that lived and wished to buy old SFA were given a meagre 1% for ever full ten years served. This I find a disgrace and believe should be corrected in line with current house prices.



On my visit to Ten Downing Street two years ago, I was ignored and my request to see senior members of the government such as the PM, DPM and the housing minister were shunned. I did manage to talk in depth with Mark Harper MP at the House of Commons and the department he works with did release an interesting paper on or around this issue. However TA soldiers and their needs were missing.



I look forward to his response.



Kind regards



Hitback



REPLY

Dear Mr Hitback,

Thank you for emailing David Cameron – I am replying on his behalf.

Thank you for taking the trouble to write. I believe that you are regular contact with Mark Harper's office and they are aware of some of the issues you raise. Please do keep in touch with them on these matters and thank you again for your email.

Yours sincerely,



Dxxxx Bxxxx

Correspondence Secretary

David Cameron's Office

House of Commons

London

SW1A 0AA

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

that's a lazy reply.

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

I can't believe how different US is from UK treating their veterans. In the US they are treated as heros. Donating money to help injured soliders is one of the most admirable ways of helping these brave guys. So I give what I can plus I'm trying to convince my company to do some kind of fundraiser. this summer.

I personally dont believe that the iraq war was a good desicion, but it was the politicians who made it and the armed forces who have to do the dirty work.

Im proud of our countries armed forces and I for one will stand by those guys coming home beaten and bruised,

Dr eko

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

That reply from Cameron is awful...Even Tony Blair could have done a better job.

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

It sounds a bit like when you call a help line and they keep telling youve got the wrong department.

sad,

if DC is like this now, while trying to build his popularity the mind boggles as to what he could become as PM

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

I have read Mr Camerons Mini Manifesto on the Armed Forces and the help service personnel and their families need with housing etc. Some of whats in the document cover information I gave to Mark Harper Shadow Defence Minister on my last visit to the HoC. However they did miss out the TA soldiers, which I was very shocked by.

I'm not trying to **** off any Party but they should looking after our armed forces and veterans. On another site a user spoke about the Housing they live in (Service Family Housing). This person explained that the SFA's that where handed back to Annington were done up beforehand, but the homes they live in and pay rent for have mould on the walls and damp throughout.

This is the shocking truth about how we are regarded by our political masters. There for their dirty work and nothing else.

Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

We now have 225 MPs signed up to EDM 288. My MP Mrs Nadine Dorries will be asking some more questions in the HoC when Mr Brown takes over Office. Last night on the national news, there was a story about the lack of housing in this country. Is there any wonder with the influx of EU people coming here!

I would have to say, they require to close the doors to this country and then address the shortage of housing stock. Bloody Labour Party, they can't govern themselves let alone a country!!!!!


Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

A person from the ARRSE site has been able to get me a meeting with Nick Harvey MP and Bob Russell MP from the Lib Dems. A big thank you to that person, I shall not name but they know who they are.

I have been been in touch with the PA to Nick Harvey MP. I have emailed some information over to her as well as the date inwhich I can visit the HoC. I shall cover the homelessness legislation with BoB Russell and Nick Harvey and other issues affecting service personnel on leaving the forces.

I will keep you updated on the meeting.

Regards

Hitback
_________________

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Thanks for the updates Hitback..keep swinging away at them..:tu:

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

To all those that have been helping with this campaign, make sure you get the Sun Newspaper tomorrow. Well done and thank you.

Regards

Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Can I ask why...I've not bought the Sun for 30 years and I would need a VERY,VERY good reason to do so tomorrow.;)

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

I'm still going to the HoC on the 2nd July to see the Shadow Defence Minister for the Lib Dems. There are many issue's that require to be addressed and Housing is only one of them!

I have to say I don't like the Sun Newspaper, so I will explain briefly.
The article was very small but I will look forward to Yvette Cooper announcing a change to 199(2)and(3) Local Connection Rule for seservice personnel and their families in the House of Commons today. The AFF were quoted as saying they're delighted with the announcement, just a pity they never pressed it through their contacts in Parliament!

Regards

Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

That's a good start..:tu:

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Incognitas,

The following will interest those following this issue. The cheque has been signed But not cashed, so please keep up the pressure by emailing your MPs asking them to support EDM 288.

Regards
Hitback




Communities and Local Government News Release
Fairer social housing rules for service personnel


Communities and Local Government News Release 2007/0119

21 June 2007

Government puts service personnel on a level playing field for council housing

Service personnel leaving the UK Armed Forces should soon find it easier to get a council house following changes to the way social housing is allocated. Housing Minister Yvette Cooper today announced that the Government will amend the law to ensure service personnel are put on an equal footing with other people when applying for social housing.

Existing legislation allows local councils to take into account whether applicants have a local connection when prioritising applicants for social housing.

The legislation can put serving personnel at a disadvantage, as it is not possible for them to establish a local connection with an area through residence or employment when serving in the Armed Forces.

A recent small scale study of 17 local councils carried out by Communities and Local Government found that there were regional differences in how service personnel looking for social housing are treated.

Housing Minister Yvette Cooper said:

“It’s right we provide our servicemen and women with the best possible support as they move back to civilian life.

“The service our Armed Forces give to their country must not place them at any disadvantage when applying for a council house.

“We are closing this loop-hole which has led to some former service personnel facing an uphill battle getting access to social housing.”

Derek Twigg, Minister for Veterans, said:

“I have been determined to resolve this disadvantage that members of the Armed Forces have been experiencing in accessing social housing.

“The MOD and Communities and Local Government have worked closely together to address this issue. The Government’s decision to change the legislation at the earliest opportunity will ensure that service leavers are not treated differently to other applicants.

“This further underlines the Government’s determination to help veterans and service personnel.”

The Government will make the necessary changes to housing legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Local councils in England are responsible for framing their own policies and procedures for allocating social housing.
Notes to editors

1. The definition of local connection is provided in legislation - S199 of the Housing Act 1996. A person has a local connection with a local authority district if he has a connection because of normal residence of choice (previous or current); employment; family connections; or other special circumstances. Residence will not be of a person’s choice, nor will they be considered to be employed there, if serving in the Armed Forces.

2. Service personnel are subject to the same access rules as everyone else. Local authority lettings are based on need, with priority going to those in the greatest need who have waited the longest.

3. Housing authorities are required to have and to publish an allocation scheme for determining priorities and for defining the procedures to be followed in allocating social housing.

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Hi all, I've been off line for some time due to BT mucking up my Broadband home move. I will be back on line by Friday, I hope!

The visit to the HoC to meet with Nick Harvey went very well and I also managed to ambush Mark Harper in the Cafe. Dr L Fox was giving an interview to the BBC so I was unable to get to talk with him. I will be placing a detailed report on what we spoke about, in the next couple of day's.


Regards

Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Hitback. As discussed. I received a reply yesterday to my March '07 e-mail to my MP Beverley Hughes. A copy of the reply she received from Des Browne Ministry of Defence, (dated 18th June '07) is now attached below.

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Slightly OT.I have received from the Royal British Legion thanks for supporting the campaign and an invitation to participate in a new campaign called Broken Covenant.

Personally I have been horrified not only by some of the stories that have been told to me and that I have read about the present system of medical treatment for returning servicemen from Iraq and Afghanistan but by the fact that one perfectly good MOD hospital Haslar has been closed here on the South Coast and that servicemen are finding themselves isolated in NHS Hospitals.
It is a fact that war injured and mentally scarred servicemen get better quicker if they are in the company of other servicemen who have also undergone similar experiences.NHS Staff may not be able to offer the same insights and attention that MOD medical staff can.Also governments have repeatedly been silent about Gulf War syndrome and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among returning and retired MOD staff.

So if any of you have received this email I hope you will agree to offer to join the campaign. :tu:

http://www.brokencovenant.org.uk/

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

The 8.5k is not an interest free. only the first 5k is. I was reading with interest the other day, that the government stated that 1 in 100 houses from the social sector is occupied by Immigrants. In fact it's 1 in 25 that is occupied by immigrants. The grand total of 200,00 out of a staock of less than 1 million. As we can see the Government has its priorities sorted out!!!!!!

Beds on sunday report by Nadine Dorries.
http://www.bedsonsunday.com/bedsonsu...06283#comments

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

My meeting with Nick Harvey MP, went well and the points I covered are below.

1. The JSHAO requires to cover a greater area. This can be done by attaching a team to the CDT group. They visit all military location in a year.

2. The LSAP is not a tax free loan at all, only the first 5k is the rest is paid back with interest.

3. MoD Nomination Scheme is over stretched and is unable to manage with the large numbers requiring housing. All you have to do is look at their waiting lists.

4. The KWS (Key Worker Scheme) is the governments shallow view on this very important issue. There are many service personnel that would love to get onto the Housing Ladder but are unable to get the deposit or afford the repayments. This scheme was also offered to civil servants at five times the number of service personnel permitted, WHY?

There will be some tabled questions on this area very soon, also how many service personnel have used the KWS in relation to civil servants!!!

5. The Homelessness Legislation Amendment of (2002) Vulnerable peoples act is a white wash. The wording is key to its failure or should I say spin. Specific Consideration. This word means to look at but not having to act upon its findings.

6. In a letter dated 9th May 2006. The Government believed only a small amount of service leavers find it hard to get housing. I believe the Government requires to open its eyes and its ears, and listen and look twice as hard as it talks. Only 9% of other ranks and 18% of Officers with in the Army own their own property. In a Continuous Attitude Survey 37% of responding Officers and 48% other ranks were either fairly or very dissatisfied with their prospects for buying or even renting a house.

7. The area of single service leavers hasn't been touched upon by any of the Political Parties. I believe if RSL's allowed group tenancies controlled by Forces Charities this would go a long way in helping single soldiers back into civilian life. I will be putting together a detailed plan of how this would work. If you are interested then please contact me.

Annington Homes Plc was covered in detail and some questions will be asked, I'm sure of that.

1. The profit shared agreement. 1996 - 2004 the Chancellor made 100 million whilst service personnel only got 1% for every full 10 years served!
a. Why is the profit not being used to off set a greater discount for service leavers?
b. Why are service tenants not being given first refusal of properties they once rented?
c Why is the MoD repairing property that is to be handed back to Annington Homes. Whilst service families and single personnel live in run down holes. Annington have stated that they invest on average 15k per property before placing them on the market. So what bloody state are these house's in and why should service personnel have to live in them.

2. What happened to the 1.6bn the properties were sold for?

3. The selling on of military locations has nothing to do with the restructure of the Brigades etc. It all has to do with the Profit Shared Agreement (PSA) and the governments contract to regenerate labour seats around the country. The (PSA) ends in less than 5 years time. After this date the government will receive nothing from Annington Homes Plc. These are my views on why we are getting super garrisons.


Regards

Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Evening Colour,
Sorry I havent kept on top of things of late,Some family illnesses & my 20 month old bolluxed new laptom means I'm now using a win2000 so slow I can cook din-dins between letters!
Anyway,I'm off with TA tommorow for 2 week jolly but I'm trying to arrange a meeting with Slyvia Hermon when I get back.I believe She & the Ulster Unionists care more about us servicemen than the government.
See you in 2 weeks.
Regards,
Spike

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

I got the email & have added my signature ....

I was born in a 'military hospital', and had treatment/operations in others, due to my fathers service in the forces, it isn't just the servicemen affected by this, it is their families, too.

- Apologies if that is too far off topic, but the general principle of not valuing the people who put their lives on the line, so we can maintain our smug society, applies, imo :dozey:

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Spike, great to see you back on site. Sorry to hear about the family illnesses, I hope all is well now.

The impact draw down is having on our RIR is shocking. All the ex-services accommodation in NI belongs to DHE and should be offered to forces personnel before civilians (thats under the old DCI's system). I believe this should be followed up when you meet Slyvia Hermon.

Regards

Hitback

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

Totally agree & to add complication, the Ex-RIR soldiers cannot settle anywhere they like,The is still the security implication as well which rules out settling in around 2/3rds of the province!And it's not just the RIR,te Ex RUC/PSNI reserves are facing the same situation.
The may be peace here but the threat still exists,despite what bLair said.
What was it ol'Gerry Adams said,
"They have'nt gone away you know"

Re: Please help.... Squaddies On the Streets after Serving Country!!!
 

The following is the DCLG Press Release sent to all military location. I find it strange how Mr Twigg states he wanted this legislation to be changed for some time. However, In the letter that have been placed on here over the past year, he has stated that the MoD has a lot of option open to forces personnel when looking for housing!!


Regards

hitback

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2007/07/31.jpg
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