Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 October 2024 to Question 6842 on Veterans: Homelessness, how many homeless veterans will eligible for social housing following the exemption of veterans from local connection and residency tests.

The forthcoming changes to social housing allocations regulations will exempt all veterans from local connection and residency tests. Local councils will continue to design and operate allocations policies in a way that best meets the needs of local communities.

The Statutory Homelessness in England statistics for January to March 2024 (Statutory homelessness in England: January to March 2024 - GOV.UK) shows that between January-March 2024, 650 households owed a homelessness duty in England included a member who reported having served in HM Forces. However, we do not hold data on the number of veterans who may have failed to qualify for social housing due to a lack of a local connection.