Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of homeless veterans in England in each year since 2018.

Homelessness data relating to veterans is currently available through H-CLIC (Homelessness Case Level Information Collection). In the financial years of 2018/19 and 2019/20, less than 1% of households who were owed a homelessness duty were assessed as having a support need as a result of serving in the Armed Forces (1,820 out of 269,510 and 1,920 out of 289,800 respectively).

The Government has taken a number of measures to ensure that veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness, are provided with appropriate support. In June 2020, the Government published new statutory guidance for local authorities to improve access to social housing for the Armed Forces and veterans community. The Homelessness Reduction Act includes a statutory duty for members of the Armed Forces, who it is believed may be at risk of homelessness after discharge, to be referred to a local housing authority. The MOD, through Veterans UK, also delivers a Defence Transition Service which provides service leavers with enhanced support, and the Veterans Welfare Service.