With veterans living in tents, Airbnbs, and short-term accommodation throughout North Wales, Clwyd West MS and Shadow Minister for North Wales Darren Millar, has today called on the Welsh Government to take action to help secure them a proper home.
Darren, who Chairs the Senedd Cross Party Group on Armed Forces and Cadets, said in the Senedd Chamber this afternoon that it is “outrageous” that people who served our country in the military are having to live like this.
Calling for a Statement from the Cabinet Secretary with responsibility for homelessness in relation to the problem, he said:
“I was in touch with a homelessness support organisation in North Wales, and met with Alabare UK, who both, of course, work on veteran housing issues. It is very clear to me that more work needs to be done to address homelessness amongst veterans.
“There are homeless veterans, unfortunately, in North Wales at the moment, who are living in tents, Airbnbs, and short-term accommodation, and, clearly, it's outrageous that people who've served our country in the military do not have the dignity of a proper home.
“I was pleased to see the UK Prime Minister, in his speech to the Labour Party conference, make specific reference about ending veteran homelessness. Now, clearly, that ought to have consequences here in Wales as well, and I would like to know what action the Welsh Government is now going to take in order to address homelessness amongst the veteran community here in Wales, given that that's a devolved responsibility, and given the commitment that the UK Prime Minister has made.”
Responding the Welsh Government’s Trefnydd (Business Manager), referred to the Statement made by the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government last week “about ways in which we're reaching out to meet those housing needs in our communities, which we recognise, of course, can include vulnerable veterans as well”.
She added:
“I think it's really important to recognise that across Wales we have really important, robust partnership covenants with our local authorities and with our veterans and armed forces as well in terms of those arrangements. So, the Cabinet Secretary will, I'm sure, be acknowledging that in terms of the way we're responding with homelessness and the White Papers that are due shortly.”
Speaking afterwards, Darren added:
“The issue of homelessness among veterans has been a topic that has been discussed in the mess halls of barracks, on frigates, and in air bases since the end of the Napoleonic wars in the early nineteenth century. And 200 years later, while we've made significant progress, it is a sad state of affairs that there are still veterans sleeping rough on the streets here in Wales.
“The very least that we can do as a society is to repay the debt of gratitude that we owe these heroes who have served our country by assisting them in securing a roof over their heads. The Welsh Government has taken some positive steps, but they don't go far enough.”
Watch Darren’s contribution in the Welsh Parliament below:
