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

[Cobbydaler]

Signed...

My Dad was in Tanks... Nothing so exciting as sitting in a Hunter... Endless visits to the Tank Museum at Bovington!!

[spike7451]

Bump

[orangebird]

I was living with my parents when they went to move abroad. The house we were in was tied to the job my dad was leaving, therefore I would be homeless. I applied to three different Housing Associations, and got nothing back from any of them apart from an acknowledgement from one. I'm not flaming, but why should servicemen get ahead of anyone else? I haven't signed your petition, but good luck to you all the same.

[TheDaddy]

I've signed it, least I could do

[walfordking]

Look at these O.A.P's who fought in WW1 & WW2. they get nothing so why should you. Some are on the streets right now. At least you have a roof over your head.

As the petition says
"Housing associations and the Government should review housing allocation policy in respect of establishing local connections to ensure that former members of the armed forces are not discriminated against when applying for housing. This in part would acknowledge the important contribution made by Her Majesty's Armed Forces in defending the United Kingdom's national interests; recognise their commitment and professionalism in the service of the country both at home and abroad and further recognises that following the end of their careers in the armed forces many servicemen and women and their families face considerable difficulties in securing housing appropriate to their needs as civilians."

When you are in the forces, you are often posted to various parts of the country (or abroad) without any choice, every two or three years. This means when you apply for housing, as one of the criteria for eligibility is that you have a local connection to the area, you are often at the end of the queue. Not much of a reward for serving your country.

---------- Post added at 13:15 ---------- Previous post was at 13:13 ----------

Originally Posted by walfordking

Look at these O.A.P's who fought in WW1 & WW2. they get nothing so why should you. Some are on the streets right now. At least you have a roof over your head.

Not true - in my area (Adel, Leeds) after the WW2, land was put aside for returning members of the forces to enable them to build homes on it. And they used to send kids up the chimneys around WW1, why don't we do it now?

btw, could you identify any of these WW1 OAP's who are on the street right now?

[orangebird]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

As the petition says
"Housing associations and the Government should review housing allocation policy in respect of establishing local connections to ensure that former members of the armed forces are not discriminated against when applying for housing. This in part would acknowledge the important contribution made by Her Majesty's Armed Forces in defending the United Kingdom's national interests; recognise their commitment and professionalism in the service of the country both at home and abroad and further recognises that following the end of their careers in the armed forces many servicemen and women and their families face considerable difficulties in securing housing appropriate to their needs as civilians."

When you are in the forces, you are often posted to various parts of the country (or abroad) without any choice, every two or three years. This means when you apply for housing, as one of the criteria for eligibility is that you have a local connection to the area, you are often at the end of the queue. Not much of a reward for serving your country.

No, but subsidised housing, meals and a half decent pension is.

Originally Posted by orangebird

No, but subsidised housing, meals and a half decent pension is.

If you do 22 years - lately, not many have had that chance, with force reductions.

And being on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Lets agree to differ.

[spike7451]

Originally Posted by orangebird

No, but subsidised housing, meals and a half decent pension is.

Yes,Servicemen get housed & fed at lower rates but we also still pay tax back to the goverment even when serving overseas!When I was based in RAFG the Gov were trying to get us to pay poll tax,but not just us but dependents as well even if they were German Nationals married to British servicemen.
All that we are asking is the same right's as every civilian.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

If you do 22 years - lately, not many have had that chance, with force reductions.

And being on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Lets agree to differ.

Not to mention not earning minimum wage either

[orangebird]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

If you do 22 years - lately, not many have had that chance, with force reductions.

And being on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Lets agree to differ.

OK then. Just voicing what I know. My brother in law is in the Army. Managed to buy a house and rent it out while living in his army quarters. Also got paid a handsome supplement whilst being sent to live in Canada for two years, all moving expenses paid of course. My best friends dad was also in the army. Her private education was paid for by the army due to all the postings her dad received. We all have to provide for ourselves out on civvy street for the worst ie redudancy, lack of pensions etc. Being in the army should make you no different from the rest of us.

---------- Post added at 13:26 ---------- Previous post was at 13:26 ----------

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

Not to mention not earning minimum wage either

Sorry, but that is absolute crap.

[spike7451]

I have been asked by the originator of the petition,Hitback,to post this link here.It explains it far better than I could.
Thanks again,
Spike

http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/Forums/...c/t=27622.html

[Hitback]

Thank you too all those that have signed the Petition. Interesting points been brought up on here about priority need etc. I started this campaign off two years ago , and its been an uphill battle all the way. My family will be classed as homeless in 4 weeks time, I'm disabled due to service and unable to get a mortgage due to my future employment prospects. All we are asking for is to be treated as equals. Nothing more and Nothing less.

I'm asking you to please read the very large thread before coming back with questions, as the thread will answer them for you. Thank you Spike for placing the thread link on here.

Thank you for your time and vote on the petition. I have also placed the link to the EDM being run in the House of Commons at present. Please email your MP and ask them to sign this impotant Early Day Motion.

Regards
Hitback

http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDe...05&SESSION=885

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

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

Not to mention not earning minimum wage either

Originally Posted by orangebird

...snip...
Sorry, but that is absolute crap.

An Army private earns (on average) £13866 pa, which if they worked a 40 hour week would be £6.66 per hour. But, since the average is 46 hours per week (see survey), this brings it down to £5.80. The national minimum wage is £5.35 - so you are right, they do earn more than the national minimum wage - 45p per hour more (with no overtime, and being exempted from the Working Time Regulations). And when you are in a combat zone, it is often 12 hours on, 12 hours off (if you are lucky) - all for £5.80 per hour

ArmySalaries

Survey

and a quote from the Chief of General Staff
DailyMail
"The newly appointed Chief of General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, has asked whether the men risking their lives are getting a fair wage.

The most recent Armed Forces Pay Review points out that the: 'Army said the proportion working excessive hours particularly among junior ranks was a concern.
"It is possible that junior ranks could earn below the national minimum wage if they consistently worked 55 hours and above (aged 22 and over) or 65 hours and above (aged between 18 and 21)."
There are few if any working weeks as short as 55 or 65 hours on the front line.
In besieged Helmand in Afghanistan, soldiers are often on duty for 16 hours or more a day, every day of the week.
A junior private with a year's post-training service earns £39.24 a day. There is an extra £6.02 separation allowance a day for being on overseas operations, giving a total of £45.26.
Based on a 16-hour working day, that's just £2.83 per hour. The minimum wage for anyone aged 22 or over is £5.35; £4.45 for those aged 18 to 21. Another way of looking at it is that a junior soldier under heavy fire over a 24-hour period in Helmand is being paid an extra 25p an hour above his standard wage for his trouble. "

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by orangebird

Sorry, but that is absolute crap.

Really


In besieged Helmand in Afghanistan, soldiers are often on duty for 16 hours or more a day, every day of the week.
A junior private with a year's post-training service earns £39.24 a day. There is an extra £6.02 separation allowance a day for being on overseas operations, giving a total of £45.26. Based on a 16-hour working day, that's just £2.83 per hour. The minimum wage for anyone aged 22 or over is £5.35; £4.45 for those aged 18 to 21.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...70&in_a_source