Holiday support for veterans homeless or in crisis
Veterans Aid, the national frontline charity for veterans in crisis or facing homelessness, will once again be operating an emergency service throughout the Christmas holiday period.
Veterans Aid operations: 0207 828 2468 or Freephone: 0800 012 6867
CEO Prof Hugh Milroy said, "We are announcing this now so that veterans in crisis know that there are key numbers for emergencies. I urge anyone with an interest in veteran wellbeing to make a note of these numbers and disseminate them as widely as possible.
"The measures announced to assist veterans in crisis in recent years, over the festive season, raised expectations that simply were not met. In some cases, despite claims that emergency support was in place, it amounted to no more than giving out our number. The resulting confusion caused great distress for some. Last year, between Dec 14 - Jan 14 - despite claims that all were helped by new initiatives - we registered 30 new clients, booked 19 into emergency accommodation and logged 237 call/interactions with veterans in crisis - from the UK and overseas. This year, as ever, we will be ready to respond to calls for help, from genuine UK veterans in distress, wherever they are."
Although London-based, Veterans Aid is connected nationally with police services, regimental associations, housing providers, and deliverers of specialist health and treatment providers. The charity frequently uses hotels to ensure that clients do not end up on the streets.
Prof Milroy said, "November and December are months regarded as part of the giving season - when charities appeal for 'Generosity at Christmas', so that no-one is left out in the cold. Sadly, a warm scarf, a turkey dinner and a few nights' accommodation are no substitutes for investment in long-term support; the kind that restores dignity and independence.
"That said, I roundly applaud the many emerging and collaborative initiatives to tackle rough sleeping and look forward to seeing how effectively the £3.5m recently allocated by our new Government towards the Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme, will be spent."
