Rise in homeless veterans raised at North Ayrshire Council

North Coast Conservative councillor Todd Ferguson raised the matter at the full North Ayrshire Council meeting on Wednesday afternoon, pointing out that a report in August revealed that homelessness had TRIPLED for veterans living in the region.

During the meeting, Cllr Ferguson asked the local authority to provide the total number of general homeless applications per year for the last five years.

The council responded that the figures were as follows: 2019-20 - 1,098; 2020-21 - 1,004; 2021-22 - 1,041; 2022-2023 - 1,094; 2023-24 - 1,161.

Cllr Ferguson then asked a supplementary question in which he focussed on the situation facing veterans, and said: "The number of homeless applications are a growing concern among authorities across Scotland.

"While we seem to have fairly consistent numbers, and we have quite robust homelessness  policies in North Ayrshire, the one area that has raised concern and been brought to my attention is that the number of homeless veterans who are now considered homeless or threatened with homelessness has tripled in the last 15 years in North Ayrshire, which is even more shocking considering the national average has dropped over the same period.

"What are we planning to do to address this unacceptable level of homelessness in armed forces personnel and what stakeholders are you working with to drive the numbers down?"

Cllr Ferguson was told that the council would come back to him with further information.

Cllr Todd Ferguson voiced concerns about 'unacceptable rise' of homeless veterans in North Ayrshire (Image: North Ayrshire Conservatives)

We reported in August that the number of armed forces veterans considered homeless, or threatened by homelessness, is increasing in North Ayrshire.

The statistics were released by the Scottish Government following a Freedom of Information request.

Within the data were figures showing the number of former armed forces members who have been assessed as homeless, or are threatened by homelessness, year on year.

This has been broken down to show the numbers for each local authority in Scotland, as well as the overall figure nationally

Across Scotland, the number of veterans who find themselves in this situation has decreased by more than half from 1,335 in 2007/08 to 640 in the most recent figures.

Though in North Ayrshire, this number has increased from 10 in 2007/08, to 30 in 2021/22. The number has also increased year on year from 20 in 2020/21.

This figure is the highest seen across the whole measured time period - and has only been reached twice previously, in 2008/09 and 2019/20.

It is also the highest figure of all Ayrshire authorities, with the latest figures showing 15 veterans as homeless, or threatened by homelessness, in East Ayrshire - and the number for South Ayrshire at 25.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “We provide a range of support to our Veteran community and will always be there for them and recognise the sacrifices they have made.

“The numbers of approaches for homeless assistance from veterans has varied between 26 and 34 households each year over the last five year period.

“We created the role of Veteran Champion in 2017, and they pursue issues on behalf of veterans, while Veteran’s First Point (V1P) was also launched in 2017.

“The V1P service works closely with the Council’s Housing Services team and ensure that where there is a housing need that the veteran is appropriately referred.

“It is also important to note that Ayrshire has armed forces and reservist bases in the location. If individuals or families are settled within these communities, there will always be a demand from armed forces applicants whether through homeless assistance or applications to the North Ayrshire Housing Register.”