Somerset urged to support homeless veterans with £432m funding
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Nov, 06:01 · Archive
Somerset Council will receive a share of £432m announced in the budget to tackle rough sleeping, with a councillor urging support for veterans.
Somerset Council will receive a share of £432m announced by Chancellor John Healey in his October budget to tackle rough sleeping across the country. This brings the total rough sleeping funding being provided to councils to £874m. The council said it would confirm shortly how much funding it would receive.
Councillor Mark Healey urged the council to prioritise its share towards homeless ex-armed forces personnel, arguing that 'too many are left unsupported' after coming home. He said that for veterans on the streets, homelessness is 'the direct consequence of combat trauma, self-related PTSD and injuries sustained while serving this nation'. He made his plea at the council's executive committee meeting on 4 November, ahead of Remembrance Sunday.
The council said it could not ring-fence the additional funding solely for veterans. Councillor Healey argued that under the Armed Forces Covenant, the council has 'a moral and civic duty to ensure no veteran is left on the streets because of service-induced mental health struggles'.
How it is being reported
- Council urged to support Somerset homeless veterans with share of £432mSomerset Council will be receiving a share of £432m of additional funding to tackle rough sleeping as part of John Healey's first budget as chancellorBridgwater Mercury · 15 Nov, 05:00
- Council urged to support Somerset homeless veterans with share of £432mSomerset Council will be receiving a share of £432m of additional funding to tackle rough sleeping as part of John Healey's first budget as chancellorSomerset County Gazette · 15 Nov, 05:00
In this story: Somerset Council · John Healey · Mark Healey · Somerset
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