Just three veterans in urgent need of housing let a Portsmouth council property last year

Housing laws state that local authorities must give preference to homeless applicants, with extra weight added to an application if they have served their country.

In 2018-19 there were three households in Portsmouth where current or former military personnel received this extra priority, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government data reveals.

But different statistics from the department show the council made a record of six veterans who were homeless or at risk of becoming so in the area between January and March 2019.

It is not possible to calculate an annual total, as some veterans could appear in the figures in more than one period throughout the year.

However, military campaigners in Portsmouth have insisted they are not worried by the figures and gave a glowing endorsement of the city’s approach towards homeless veterans.

Gary Weaving, founder of Eastney-based forces group Forgotten Veterans UK, has dealt with the council on ‘numerous’ occasions to find emergency accommodation for ex-servicemen and women.

The former soldier said: ‘I’m not worried by this. The reality is every veteran is different. It’s not as straightforward as it could be.

‘Is there room for improvement? Obviously. But I believe that the council is listening and trying its best to help veterans.

‘So far, I’ve found them very supportive and helpful. They seem to genuinely care and they have my vote.’

Darren Sanders, Portsmouth’s housing boss, said the city council was committed to supporting homeless veterans.

He said: ‘We take our duties towards veterans incredibly seriously.

‘These are people that have fought for their country and may have seen people die fighting for their country. They deserve the very best future this country has to offer.

‘I am delighted we have been given a vote of confidence by the excellent Forgotten Veterans UK for what we do in the city.’

Only one property in Fareham was let to a veteran in urgent need of housing last year, with just one person identified by Fareham Borough Council as being at risk of homelessness.

Havant Borough Council mirrored the result, housing one veteran at risk. While in Gosport, no armed forces personnel were identified as in need of urgent housing,

Nationwide, there were just 921 armed forces personnel let a council property by receiving preferential treatment last year.

Under the Housing Act 1996, ‘reasonable preference’ should be given to housing applicants who are homeless or in dire need of housing, and further help should be offered to armed forces personnel.