Portsmouth MP Stephen Morgan has said armed forces heroes will be given better access to social housing, after the Prime Minister announced plans to scrap rules that unfairly penalise veterans.
During his speech at Labour Party Conference, the Prime Minister the changes will also prioritise vulnerable groups such as care leavers and domestic abuse victims, who are often unfairly affected by the requirements to prove a local connection.
Veterans, young care leavers and domestic abuse victims will now be able to apply for social housing in any part of the country.
The plans come as part of the biggest boost to affordable and social housing in a generation.
Armed forces personnel often spend years posted across the country or overseas, which can dislocate them from family and friends.
Current rules allow veterans an exemption from local connection tests for five years after leaving the armed forces, but over 80 per cent of homeless veterans referred for housing support left the forces more than five years ago.
These rules unfairly punish the veterans who have served our country and kept us safe, putting those most in need at risk of homelessness.
Domestic abuse victims and care leavers often must leave their local area for their own safety or to receive suitable support and do not have a local connection to the place where they would best be able build a safe and stable life. Labour’s plans will ensure security for veterans, domestic abuse victims and young care leavers is secured for the long term.
This new pledge is underpinned by Labour’s plan to take tough decisions to reform the planning system, build 1.5 million homes and deliver the biggest wave of social and affordable housing in a generation.
Commenting, Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said:
“We know in Portsmouth the ultimate service is that of our armed forces personnel and veterans. We all owe a huge debt of gratitude for all they have given our country.
“The unfair rules regarding access to social housing have contributed to homelessness among armed forces veterans increasing by nearly a quarter over the last Parliament.
“The new measures announced by the government today will help ensure there are homes for heroes as well as vulnerable groups such as care leavers and domestic abuse victims who have told me what a difference these changes will make.”
Announcing the new measure in his speech to Labour Party Conference today, the Prime Minister said Labour’s commitment to renewing the nation’s contract with those who served means security for our veterans giving a home to our heroes:
“There is another injustice hiding in plain sight on our streets. In every town and city in this country. People who were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, who put their lives on the line to protect us all, but who will not have a safe place to sleep tonight.
“We cannot stand by and let this happen anymore. And so today, I can announce that this government will respect that service. We will repay those who served us and house all veterans in housing need. Homes will be there for heroes.”
The new measures will also prioritise vulnerable groups such as care leavers and domestic abuse victims, who are often unfairly affected by the requirements to prove a local connection.
Addressing Labour Conference, the Prime Minister said the sweeping planning reforms already driven through by this government means we can deliver security for vulnerable people in our society:
“Because we have started the hard yards of planning reform, because we are facing up to decisions ignored for years, and because we are introducing new planning passports that will turbo-charge housebuilding in our inner cities, we can make the very same guarantee for other people at risk of homelessness.
“Young care leavers, victims of domestic abuse. They will have the security they deserve. They will have a guaranteed roof over their head. Because Britain belongs to them.”
Today, the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, has written to local councils telling them to prioritise veterans for life and support vulnerable groups through their social housing allocation.
Regulatory changes will be brought forward as a priority when parliamentary time allows. The Labour government has already given councils more flexibility to use their Right to Buy receipts to build and buy more social homes and allocated an additional £450 million for councils to secure homes for families at risk of homelessness.
The moves are another step in Labour’s bold plans to not only build the housing our country needs, but boost social and affordable housing and ensure those who need it can access it. The announcement also comes after the Prime Minister pledged to turbocharge housebuilding in urban areas through new ‘planning passports’ in a brown-field first approach that says ‘yes not no’ to building homes across the country.
