Abstract
Accessing suitable accommodation post transition into civilian life from the military is one of the key markers for future success and wellbeing. For many this process can and does start during their military career. Some veterans struggle to find appropriate housing, often complicated by other difficulties associated with employment, physical and mental injuries, or difficulties with relationships. Over the past two years the position of veterans, veterans’ families, and service people in transition in the United Kingdom (UK) has gained increased national and international visibility through the establishment of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs. The Ministry of Defence’s 2018 Strategy for Our Veterans’ report contains a key theme that veterans in the UK should have a secure place to live either through buying, renting or social housing. However, the National Audit Office (NAO) recently reported that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is not meeting its commitment to provide high-quality, subsidised accommodation to all service personnel. Satisfaction with single living accommodation has declined in recent years and can impact on the retention of military personnel, risking the MOD’s ability to deliver defence capabilities. This review looks at the policy changes made in the past two years to support quality UK service accommodation, aid, sustain successful post-military transitions, and ensure veterans do not want for adequate housing.
Highlights
Since 2018 the position of veterans, veterans’ families, and service people in transition in the United Kingdom (UK) has gained increased national and international visibility by the establishment of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) in 2019, with its stated aim of, Lead[ing] the UK Government efforts to make sure the United Kingdom is the best place to be a veteran anywhere in the world and helping the nation fulfil its lifelong duty to those who have served in the Armed Forces. (n.p.).This includes delivering The Strategy For Our Veterans report (Ministry of Defence, 2018a), which contains one key housing theme: “Veterans have a secure place to live either through buying, renting or social housing” (p. 5)
This builds on the Armed Forces Covenant, developed from 2000 and published in 2011, which is based on the premise that “those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether regular or reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services” (Ministry of Defence, 2011, p. 1)
This review looks at the changes made to policy in the UK in the past 2 years to support quality UK service accommodation, aid, and sustain successful transition as well as to ensure veterans do not want for adequate housing
Summary
Since 2018 the position of veterans, veterans’ families, and service people in transition in the United Kingdom (UK) has gained increased national and international visibility by the establishment of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) in 2019, with its stated aim of, Lead[ing] the UK Government efforts to make sure the United Kingdom is the best place to be a veteran anywhere in the world and helping the nation fulfil its lifelong duty to those who have served in the Armed Forces. (n.p.).This includes delivering The Strategy For Our Veterans report (Ministry of Defence, 2018a), which contains one key housing theme: “Veterans have a secure place to live either through buying, renting or social housing” (p. 5). The majority of the approximately 15,000 Armed Forces personnel leaving regular service go on to make a successful transition into civilian life each year when their military service ends (Ministry of Defence, 2019b).
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