Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that homeless veterans can access accommodation through the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme in all regions.

This Government is working towards ending veteran homelessness this year, with £8.55m in funding for specialist help for former armed forces personnel in more than 900 veteran supported housing units, and a referral pathway.

The Reducing Veteran Homelessness programme, which aims to address veterans homelessness and rough sleeping through the provision of specialist services, such as mental health or employment support, was launched in April.

This programme was open to veteran supported housing providers across the UK until 22 May and applications will be assessed by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. Successful organisations are expected to start their projects in September 2023, and will be supplemented by Op FORTITUDE, the new referral pathway for veterans experiencing or facing homelessness.