{"value":{"id":1237487,"askingMemberId":4839,"askingMember":null,"house":"Commons","memberHasInterest":false,"dateTabled":"2020-09-24T00:00:00","dateForAnswer":"2020-09-28T00:00:00","uin":"95253","questionText":"To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what (a) assessment his Department has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on armed forces veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness and (b) steps his Department is taking to support armed forces veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness.","answeringBodyId":53,"answeringBodyName":"Cabinet Office","isWithdrawn":false,"isNamedDay":false,"groupedQuestions":[],"answerIsHolding":false,"answerIsCorrection":false,"answeringMemberId":4485,"answeringMember":null,"correctingMemberId":null,"correctingMember":null,"dateAnswered":"2020-10-02T00:00:00","answerText":"<p>The Government has taken a number of measures to identify and support veterans who are experiencing, or who are at risk of, homelessness. The Homelessness Reduction Act includes a statutory duty for members of the Armed Forces, who it is believed may be at risk of homelessness after discharge, to be referred to a local housing authority. The MOD, though Veterans UK, also provides a Defence Transition Service which offers those personnel who are known to be at risk of challenges, which may impact on making a successful transition back into civilian life, with enhanced support and a Veterans Welfare Service which provides support and assistance to veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness.</p><p>Earlier this year King's College London was commissioned to undertake research on the impact of COVID-19 on veterans, the results of which will provide insight across a range of factors including housing and homelessness and other areas such as mental health and loneliness. Alongside this, the COVID-19 Impact fund has provided nearly £6m of support to over 100 Armed Forces charities including those working in the housing sector.</p><p> </p>","originalAnswerText":"","comparableAnswerText":"","dateAnswerCorrected":null,"dateHoldingAnswer":null,"attachmentCount":0,"heading":"Veterans: Homelessness","attachments":[],"groupedQuestionsDates":[]},"links":[{"rel":"self","href":"/Questions/1237487","method":"GET"}]}