Burnham pledges support to house homeless veterans this winter

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 7 Nov, 19:56 · Archive

Prime Minister Andy Burnham will write to councils urging them to draw up plans to house military veterans sleeping rough.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham will personally write to councils across England on Armistice Day (11 November) urging them to develop specific plans to help military veterans sleeping rough, ahead of the Christmas period. The pledge, announced ahead of Remembrance Sunday, is part of his wider plan to offer everyone currently sleeping rough a bed this winter.

Burnham said that no one who served in the British armed forces should be left to sleep rough on the streets. He stated that supporting veterans would now be an 'operating principle for the whole of government, national and local', with councils asked to work with local organisations and charities supporting the ex-forces community.

The Prime Minister said the country owes homeless veterans 'more than warm words', emphasising that they should have 'a bed every night, a proper plan and someone in their corner from day one'. Burnham noted that many councils are already working with charities to support veterans, and said the new funding would allow them to 'take that to the next level and end the need for any veteran to sleep rough on any night'.

How it is being reported

• Veterans shouldn't sleep rough this Christmas, Burnham saysDowning Street says the prime minister will personally write to councils on Armistice Day to urge them to draw up plans.BBC News · 7 Nov, 20:26
• Andy Burnham makes fresh rough sleeping vow to help homeless veterans off the streetsThe Prime Minister said nobody who served should be 'left to sleep rough', and that supporting them was now being addressed as a priority across local and national GovernmentThe Mirror · 7 Nov, 19:34
• Burnham vows specific support to help homeless veterans off the streetsAndy Burnham will write personally to councils across England on Armistice Day urging them to draw up specific plans for homeless veterans.Evening Standard · 7 Nov, 19:15

In this story: Andy Burnham · England · Armistice Day

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