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

The link below must be the information thats come out of the recent debate. Lets just hope they put more cash into the project.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.../nhomes116.xml

Regards

Hitback

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

Looks like your campaign was sucessful then

:tu: to everyone who signed the petition here

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

I admit I have a very mixed view on this subject, whilst not putting down what they do in fighting for their country I believe the underlying problem is often caused by their own actions. I work with a lot of ex armed forces from all three services, the navy and airforce tend to differ to those serving in the army. The ex navy people who I work with certainly got their priorities right by buying a house when they were young not long after joining the navy and the airforce guys seem to be in a similar situation. The majority of ex squaddies I work with by their own admission bought flash cars and had a great time pi**ing what was left against the wall.

So am I right in assuming this is mainly affecting ex army persons and not the other forces as much?

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

The army and it's dependents tend to live together in one area and when they move from base to base they go as a group plus dependents .

In the Navy individuals move from ship to ship and their dependents may move with them to the MOD housing nearest their ship's home dockyard.Most of us (navy wives) tend to get fed up with moving around because we don't move as a group as happens with the army(I'm an army brat by the way) where the wives all know and support each other so navy wives tend to be rather more inclined to stay in one place.

As a working professional I decided I wasn't going to mess around with my career by constantly moving every 18 months so we bought a house on the south coast.As my husband ended up working on minesweepers he ended up mainly in Scotland while I stayed on the south coast.

Therefore those in the army tend as they are moving fairly often not to bother buying a house because it becomes tedious to be putting a house on the market so often especially as in the past they might find them selves living in Germany,Malta etc.As the British Empire dwindles though it maybe they would consider buying rather than renting MOD accommodation i.f it weren't so damned expensive to be a first time buyer

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

Being Ex infantry i totally agree with what you say, rightly or wrongly when in the Army,(i can only refer to the infantry maybe Artillery Regiments as well) you literally lived for the moment so things like housing,saving money ect were way down the list. I personally did manage to save each month and always was pi**ng it up the wall with the rest. I know as well that alot of the guys after spending a good few years in the services find it hard as you really don't have to worry about day-day things like bills-mortgages so when alot of people leave suddenly the normal life and all that goes with it can be to much to handle.

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

Thanks to yourself and Incognitas for the replies to my post, I must admit I thought I was most likely to get flamed for my post.

My reply to Incognitas when she says they dont buy houses because they move around a lot was 'well do they invest the money they are not using to buy a house';)

Sollp your reply is spot on to what I hear from ex squaddies I work with, and the ones who I meet in my job who are still in the army. I mainly come into contact with warrant officers etc and a couple (certainly 2 I can think of) who are soon to be leaving, both of these live in army accomodation and are both WO1's. They both realise coming out is going to be a big shock to the system, and both admit that they wish they hadn't pi**ed quite as much of their money againt the wall.

Both however have enjoyed living in army accomodation on camps because they say there is no crime, and the kids tend to be well bahaved because the MP's keep an eye on them.

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

Why would you be flamed?It was a perfectly reasonable question.

I think the trouble is that in the army situation it's a lovely little safe and secure world with loads of support for the families.IF you move out of the community you do find yourself on your own..and in the present climate of dislike for the Iraq war that may be a scary thought for families.As for the investment..damn it must be really depressing being in a war zone or off on the country's business away from everyone..you end up spending money going out to 'forget' how lonely you are.Something that really affected my husband when his ship was away overseas or he was stuck in Faslane.:)

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

The following link is on the BAFF site. It explains the Housing issue in detail and shows the support they have given to this issue. A big thank you for all their support on this campaign.

Regards

Hitback



Clause 270 - Armed forces: homelessness and allocation of housing

775. Clause 270 amends section 199 of the Housing Act 1996, which sets out the circumstances when a person has a local connection with the district of a local housing authority. Housing authorities may take account of whether a person has a local connection with their district when considering the person's priority for an allocation of housing under Part 6 of the 1996 Act or when making inquiries about whether the person is homeless and owed a duty for the purposes of Part 7 of the 1996 Act. The effect of the amendment is that a person in the armed forces will now be able to establish a local connection with a district through residence of choice or employment there, in the same way as a civilian.

http://www.baff.org.uk/baff-social-housing-campaign.htm

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

Thank you.Finally some justice.:clap:

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

Incognitas and to all members of this site thank you for all your support.

Help from this site on the next campaign would be great. It's all about the unfit for purpose Medical Discharge and War pensions saga. I have already started this campaign on other sites but would appreciate the support of the members on here as well.

If you like to know more about this issue then I will start a fresh campaign thread on here. Moderators please advise.


Regards

Hitback

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

Well I'm listening..:)

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

I am not sure when the Government intend to introduce this amendment but if you are getting out of the forces soon, then I would suggest you take a copy of the amendment above with you to the Housing Association / Council officers. If they ignore it contact your MP at his Local Offices or at Parliament. I would be more than happy to get their phone number or locate your MP for you, just PM me.

It would also help if people that have been turned down were to enter a short or long version of what their HA or District Council said to them.

Regards

Hitback

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

The following are ideas for making the present Medical Discharge and Veterans Agency, work for the injured soldier and not against as this hinders their rehabilitation in to civilian life. As is the case at present.

If you believe this would be a good idea or you have your own idea on how to improve the present system then let us all know.

Regards

Hitback

Idea
On all three medical boards that are held to discuss and opt on the injured persons medical treatment and discharge, very little is discussed about the welfare, benefits, or percentage of disability the person has. I hope in this very informal paper to explain a simple method of improving the present system.

On a service persons final medical board it's important that a member of the Veterans Agency is present. All the medical documents on the person being discharged require to have been seen by the Veterans Agency at least four weeks before the final board.

The medical discharge will be done as per the normal manner but for one crucial piece of information. The degree of disability to be offered to the service leaver will be told there and then. The Service Leaver can get this redressed later if they don't agree with the percentage being offered. They can also discuss the percentage being given with the Veterans Agency person present in phase two of the discharge. It's phase two that will be of great importance to the service leaver.

Phase Two

Once phase one is over the service leaver will meet the Veterans Agency person. It will be down to this person to explain the percentage of disability and the Benefits the service leaver is entitled to.

All paperwork for a war pension is completed before the final Medical Board, Remember the Veterans Agency has had the Medical Documents for four weeks and between them and the Military Doctors have come to their findings.

All the Benefit forms; Incapacity, Mobility, Carers Allowance, housing benefits etc. These are to be filled in at this point. An exemption certificate for prescriptions is issued, this will allow the person to get their medication without any cost to themselves.

Phase Three

The discharge date once confirmed requires to go directly to the Veterans Agency. This will allow them to get all the benefits started in time for the persons discharge date. All follow up medical appointments require to be in place with the Date, Time and location of treatment before the service leaver enters civilian street. This is essential for those suffering from Mental Health Issues (PTSD). Combat Stress should be made aware of the service leaver if they have PTSD.

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

You might want an admin to make this into a separate thread ;)

Sounds like an interesting proposal as well :tu:

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

TheDaddy, HOW DO I GO ABOUT DOING THAT? PLEASE DIRECT ME!

REGARDS

HITBACK

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

Back after a absence.We have had some great results so far.Lets keep it up,Still hoping on a meet with my MLA.

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

I would like to know if anyone has been turned doewn for social housing since the government suggested these changes!

It would be great to see if councils are taking any notice yet.

Found the following the other day.

http://www.rushmoor.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=679

http://www.preston.gov.uk/General.as...X9452-A77F89E7

Regards

Hitback

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

I pm'd an admin ;)

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

Thanks for that..The D.

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

I have email some Ministers and await their replies. I'm sure you will understand that this may take some time!


Regards

Hitback