Housing case studies: Availability of suitable social housing

***This Covenant case study database is still being built. If you have any case studies about availability of suitable social housing, suitable for adding to the database, please submit a case study.***

Prioritisation

Veterans in Wigan with medical need related to Service are given priority on the housing waiting list, and spouses going through divorce will also be given priority.
In Welwyn Hatfield, the waiting list for social housing is around three years. Those not in the Armed Forces Community are able to apply for social housing with this in mind, knowing it will take roughly three years to access housing, however veterans may not be able to do so, as the Armed Forces might have moved them to the area (when they were still in Service) only recently. Welwyn Hatfield Council changed its social housing policy. The banding for Service leavers via giving notice (one of the routes of discharge) was modified to take into account the shorter time frame veterans face when leaving via this route.
When South Lanarkshire Council’s housing allocation policy was introduced in 2009, Service applicants were awarded the highest single award of points available under the policy. The aim being that this would enable an offer of housing to be made when the applicant was discharged. However, in 2010, it was identified that the points awarded to Service applicants were sometimes insufficient to enable an offer of housing to be made. An amendment to the allocation policy was made, to allow Service applicants who meet certain criteria to be awarded the highest priority for housing, and be queued on the Urgent Housing Need list, along with homeless applicants and those with an urgent medical need. In 2019, further amendments to the eligibility criteria were made in relation to Service applicants, to allow connection to the area through previous kinship care arrangements, and to extend the timescale within which priority for housing can be awarded after date of discharge, from six weeks to up to six months.

Provision of supported housing

A council became aware of an 82-year-old veteran and his wife who were soon to become homeless from their static caravan which was situated for some time on a touring site, not a residential site. The wife had dementia and Alzheimer’s and, in accordance with local Armed Forces housing policy, they were fast-tracked to supported housing. A homeless accommodation house was provided, entitlement for benefits was assessed, and the council worked with local groups and the Royal British Legion to fully furnish the home with discounted blinds, furniture and white goods, while the wife was placed in a care home for two days. The couple believe that the help and kindness they were given extended their time together.

Dedicated housing stock

Herefordshire has a significant shortage of available housing stock to meet the demand. Herefordshire Council identified and gifted some land in Leominster for a ground-breaking veteran self-build project, partnering with Stonewater Housing (a social housing provider), local builders Harpers, and Alabare charity. Ground was broken at the end of 2018, and the project was completed at the end of 2020. Nine veterans, of whom six were classed as homeless with a range of complex needs, took part, building their own homes whilst also gaining experience, training, and construction qualifications. It had a positive and significant impact on their lives. A total of 19 homes were built, reducing social housing waiting times in the county. Herefordshire Council is now seeking other sites where this can be replicated.
To help single male veterans, some with a criminal record, and other single males with a non-priority status under homelessness legislation, the Watling Street Project was set up by North Warwickshire Borough Council and Veterans Contact Point with funding from Warwickshire Council. It worked with Cornerstone Partnership (a local housing social enterprise) to lease a 5-bed property to accommodate single males. Four veterans and nine civilians have used the home, and the charity also supports them for up to 12 months after they leave.
East Lothian Council created some brand-new properties specially for veterans, comprising six 2-bedroom flats, three of which are fully wheelchair-accessible units on the ground floor. These are council tenancies set aside for the express use of veterans, who were identified and nominated by Veterans Housing Scotland. All six properties have been allocated. These tenancies have all been sustained and the residents have integrated well into their local community