Toggle menu

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

Homelessness

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.

WiltsLet - Find a Tenant

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:-

Drop-in centres contact details
Project nameServices providedLocationOpening 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

Rough Sleeping?

Share this page

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share by email