Council urged to use empty buildings for homeless veterans

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 06:00 · Archive

Homeless veterans are camping on Salisbury Plain whilst Wiltshire Council owns unoccupied properties.

Homeless veterans are said to be camping on Salisbury Plain whilst Wiltshire Council owns unoccupied properties, according to reports. Reform UK councillors Mike Sankey and Boaz Barry will challenge the council at Full Council on Tuesday, October 20, to undertake a complete audit of its buildings and identify opportunities to provide family and emergency accommodation.

The councillors point to what they say are more than 4,000 families on the social housing waiting list and specifically highlight concerns about homeless veterans on Salisbury Plain. Cllr Sankey has drawn attention to a former caretaker's bungalow at Marden Academy in Calne which he says has remained unoccupied for years despite plans to dispose of it to a social housing provider.

The issue of veterans' homelessness is already being tackled locally by Salisbury-based charity Alabaré, which provides specialist accommodation for former Armed Forces personnel who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Alabaré's Salisbury service can accommodate up to 11 people at a time. The charity has reported a 21 per cent increase in overall demand for its services and has highlighted government estimates that around 6,000 veterans are at risk of homelessness nationally.

Progress has been made locally. A six-bedroom veterans' home has opened in Devizes through a partnership between Alabaré and Stone Circle. One veteran due to move in had served in the Army for 22 years before finding himself sleeping in his car.

Council urged to use empty buildings for homeless veterans — Image: Wiltshire Times

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How it is being reported

Homeless veterans 'camping on Salisbury Plain' as council buildings stand emptyHomeless veterans are said to be camping on Salisbury Plain while council-owned properties stand empty.Wiltshire Times · 16 Oct, 05:00
Homeless veterans 'camping on Salisbury Plain' as council buildings stand emptyHomeless veterans are said to be camping on Salisbury Plain while council-owned properties stand empty.Gazette & Herald · 16 Oct, 05:00
Homeless veterans 'camping on Salisbury Plain' as council buildings stand emptyHomeless veterans are said to be camping on Salisbury Plain while council-owned properties stand empty.Swindon Advertiser · 16 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Wiltshire Council · Alabaré · Mike Sankey · Boaz Barry · Salisbury Plain · Devizes · Calne · Stone Circle

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