Give “welfare to wellbeing” methodology closer attention as it is an effective post-modern model - Veterans Aid
Prevention of rough sleeping is better than cure, but consensus on how this should best be achieved, and a willingness on the part of all parties to embrace change and eschew traditional (and territorial!) approaches, is vital, says Dr Hugh Milroy, Chief Executive, Veterans Aid.
Veterans Aid applauds any Government measure to eradicate rough sleeping and this latest strategy is no exception. However, as the PM acknowledges, “this is a complex issue” and I can understand why the welcome given by the coalition of homeless charities is ‘cautious’. Prevention is indeed better than cure, but consensus on how this should best be achieved, and a willingness on the part of all parties to embrace change and eschew traditional (and territorial!) approaches, is vital.
At Veterans Aid we have a model for dealing with homelessness that works in microcosm, within the veterans world to the extent that there are now very few genuine veterans on the streets of Britain. Several factors have made a difference but uniquely, our operations room, which is specifically tasked and funded to prevent people getting to the streets in the first place, regardless of location has been critical. Our recidivist rate is tiny but I’m not naïve enough to believe that it can be extrapolated overnight to address what is a significant national problem. However, I would urge those Ministers tasked with tackling rough sleeping to give our “welfare to wellbeing” methodology closer attention as it is an effective post-modern model.
