Leaving the Armed Forces
Homelessness Support
If you are a former member of HM Forces and are experiencing homelessness, or are threatened with homelessness, it is important that you seek advice from the Housing Options Team urgently as their role is to prevent homelessness.
The team will assess whether the Council has a statutory duty to provide you with accommodation by considering whether you are;
- eligible for assistance
- homeless or threatened with homelessness
- in priority need
- unintentionally homeless
Part of the assessment of your circumstances will be to consider your service in the Armed Forces and whether this is relevant to your circumstances now. For example, when considering whether you are in priority need, the officer will consider whether you are 'vulnerable' as a result of time spent in service. Each case is considered on its own merits in this respect.
If the team find that a statutory duty is owed to you as a result of your circumstances, you will be made an offer of emergency accommodation. This may be one of the following;
- Hostel
- Private sector lease property
You may also be offered the Rent Deposit Scheme (Wilts Let) to assist you to secure private rented accommodation, or invited to make an application for Supported Housing through the housing options team. The Council does not have to provide social housing to fulfil a housing duty to you and can do so through finding you a private rented property that meets your needs.
If the team make the decision that there is no statutory duty, you will be issued with a decision letter setting out very clearly why they have reached this decision. This letter will also set out the process of appealing this decision. In this situation it is advisable to seek advice from organisations such as Shelter or Citizens Advice Bureau, or from a solicitor.
Advice and assistance will be given to enable you to secure accommodation for yourself, along with other useful information including local housing allowance rates and advice on what to look for and consider when choosing private rented options.
Rough Sleepers
The Council's rough sleeper outreach help is provided by Wiltshire Council and other providers. They will attempt to engage with you if you are sleeping rough and will connect you to services and assistance where possible - many of which are specific for veterans. There are also a number of drop-in centres across Wiltshire that are run by others which include:-
Project name | Services provided | Location | Opening times |
---|---|---|---|
Doorway Chippenham | Showers, laundry and benefit support. | The Citadel Bath Road Chippenham SN15 21B | Monday 9.30am to 12.30pm Tuesday 10am till 12 noon Wednesday 10am to 12 noon Thursday 12.30am to 3.30pm |
Opendoors Devizes | Access to showers, food and benefit support. | Southbroom Centre Victoria Road Devizes SN10 1HG | Monday 11am to 1pm Wednesday 9.30am to 11.30am Thursday 11am to 1pm Friday 5pm to 6.30pm |
The Hub Bradford on Avon | Benefits support, internet access, food bank and the hub plan to provide hot food from the 1st November (for the winter months). | Church Street Bradford on Avon BA15 1LS | Monday to Friday ;10am to 1pm |
Storehouse Nexus' Trowbridge | Providing hot food, support with benefits. | Emmanuel's Yard Emmanuel's Church Buildings (access via Union street) Trowbridge BA14 8RZ | Tuesday to Friday 10am to 12.30pm |
Cornerstone Warminster | Access to the internet, support with benefits and a food bank. | Central Car Park Station Road Warminster BA12 9BT | Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10am to 12.30pm |
Cross Point Westbury | Support with benefits. No food provided. Access to Warminster food bank. | 7 Market Place Westbury BA13 3DE | Monday and Wednesday 2.30pm to 5pm Thursday and Friday 10am to 12.30pm |
Alabaré 'Somewhere Safe to Go' Salisbury | Support with benefits, hot meals, clothing, sleeping bags, free dog food, laundry and washing facilities. | 58 Barnard Street Salisbury SP1 2BJ | Monday to Friday 10am to 2.00pm |
Encircles Salisbury | Hot and cold food. | Millstream Coach Park, Salisbury SP1 3UE | Monday to Saturday from 7pm Sunday from 12.45pm |
SP2 Community Coffee Shop Salisbury | Reasonably priced drinks and snacks. Free drinks if rough sleeping. | 159-161 Fisherton Street Salisbury SP2 7RP | Monday to Friday 10.20am to 4.30pm |
Lifeline Melksham | Hot showers, tea/coffee, debt/housing advice. | Baptist Church (Old Broughton Road entrance) Old Broughton Road Melksham SN12 8BX | Monday 1.30pm to 3.30pm Thursday 10am to 12 noon |
Soup Kitchen Trowbridge | Hot foods/drinks. | St Stephen's Car Park Trowbridge BA14 8AH | Every evening from 7pm |
Unity House Drop In Chippenham | Showers, laundry, link up with other services, free dog food. | 4 Wood Lane Chippenham SN15 3BX | Tuesday, Friday and Sunday 2pm to 4pm |