Grants of up to £1.5M available to tackle veterans’ homelessness

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme – a targeted programme that will award major grants to tackle the issue of veterans experiencing homelessness.

Under this new programme, the Trust will award grants on behalf of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) towards projects that contribute to the aims of the government’s ambition to reduce veteran homelessness and end rough sleeping.

Who’s it for?

Charities, housing associations or registered social housing providers can apply for a two-year grant of up to £500,000 per year. There is also an opportunity to apply for an enhanced award of up to a further £250,000 per year, where organisations can show us that extending your project will fill a significant level of unmet need. 

What’s the aim of the programme?

Successful applications will be those that clearly show us:

• that you have considerable experience in providing support to homeless veterans
• that your project is adaptable to the needs of veterans, including veterans with high, medium and low-level support needs
• that your project that will deliver sustainable outcomes for the veterans accessing them, so that they don’t return to being homeless in future.

It is also vital that projects are collaborative – working with others to meet the needs of veterans.

By providing specialised support services, we can help address the complex issues faced by some veterans while making sure they have access to accommodation, and give them a greater chance of leading a stable, healthy life so that they don’t return to being homeless in future.

Finally, you will need to show how you would work with Op FORTITUDE – the Government’s new central referral pathway for homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness.

Ending Veteran Homelessness

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Johnny Mercer, said:

“No one, not least those who have served this country, should be homeless. That’s why we’re providing up to £8m to fund tailored support for our veterans in hundreds of housing places across the country.

“Only by helping to address the complex issues faced by some veterans, can we end veterans’ homelessness.”