Andy Burnham will tell councils to ensure no veteran is on the streets at Christmas
Andy Burnham will write to councils across Yorkshire urging them to ensure no one who served in the British armed forces should have to sleep on the streets this Christmas.
The Prime Minister will send the letters on Armistice Day this Wednesday telling local authorities to draw up specific plans to offer accommodation to military veterans sleeping rough
National and local government should work together on the principle that those who served in the military should not be left to sleep on the streets, his letter will say.
The pledge, announced ahead of Remembrance Sunday, is part of the Prime Minister’s wider plan to offer everyone currently sleeping rough a bed this winter.
Mr Burnham said: “No one who has served our country should be left to sleep rough on our streets.
“It is a simple principle and, from now on, I am setting it as an operating principle for the whole of government, national and local.
“People who stepped forward prepared to put their lives on the line for the rest of us should never lack a roof over their head.
“When they need help, the country owes them more than warm words. It owes them a bed every night, a proper plan and someone in their corner from day one.”
The Prime Minister added: “Many councils are already doing a great job working with charities supporting the ex-forces community.
“With this new funding, they can take that to the next level and end the need for any veteran to sleep rough on any night.
“This is what I meant when I spoke about putting the right standards back at the heart of the country when I walked up Downing Street for the first time.”
Mr Burnham promised to offer everyone sleeping rough a route off the streets by the end of this year in one of his first moves as Prime Minister.
He has announced an additional £874m of funding to help tackle rough sleeping since coming to office.
Part of this funding should now be used by councils to draw up plans to tackle homelessness among veterans, Mr Burnham’s letter to local authorities will say.
This comes after West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin announced that £3.7m would be committed across the region to provide accommodation and targeted support to those with complex needs.
Leeds was given almost half of the total, at £1.64m, and this will be up to the council to spend as it sees fit.
The city centre has a growing rough sleeping problem, with some women telling The Yorkshire Post they no longer feel safe after dark.
Coun Asghar Khan, executive member for housing, said: “We are very pleased to welcome this additional funding to support some of the most vulnerable people in Leeds, those rough sleeping.
“Through the Leeds Street Support Partnership and services commissioned by Leeds City Council such as the Crypt, St Annes, Change Grow Live (Street Outreach team) and BARCA-Leeds, we are committed to offering people the help they need as well as safe and secure emergency accommodation.
"This extra funding will enable to us build on this work with the aim of ensuring no-one feels they have no choice but to sleep rough in Leeds.”