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I'm still going to the HoC on the 2nd July to see the Shadow Defence Minister for the Lib Dems. There are many issue's that require to be addressed and Housing is only one of them!
The article was very small but I will look forward to Yvette Cooper announcing a change to 199(2)and(3) Local Connection Rule for seservice personnel and their families in the House of Commons today. The AFF were quoted as saying they're delighted with the announcement, just a pity they never pressed it through their contacts in Parliament!
DT_Xtremez_28: DT_Xtremez_28:
Regards
Hitback
The article was very small but I will look forward to Yvette Cooper announcing a change to 199(2)and(3) Local Connection Rule for seservice personnel and their families in the House of Commons today. The AFF were quoted as saying they're delighted with the announcement, just a pity they never pressed it through their contacts in Parliament!
DT_Xtremez_28: DT_Xtremez_28: Regards
Hitback
E
elovabloke
Guest
Well done Hitback and all those on e-goat who assisted with the e-petition and spent time contacting MP's, and to all those who sait it would never change anything http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1002882&PressNoticeID=2448
And thanks to BAFF to putting their resources to this
And thanks to BAFF to putting their resources to this
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A very Big thanks to all those from this site that supported this campaign. It's not over yet though, as Skynet said to me. The cheque has been signed But not cashed. To that end, please keep the pressure on. The CoC could always contact the MP for their base location, asking them to support EDM 288.DT_Xtremez_30:
Regards
Hitback
DT_Xtremez_30: Regards
Hitback
I have been unable to get on line due to my move. I'm going to the HoC tomorrow to see the Lib Dems Defence Minister and Bob Russell MP. I will be talking about the future changes that are supposed to be made to the Legislation as well as, the future campaign issue I will be starting in the next couple of weeks. I will keep this site updated on this issue as well as the new one.
Regards
Hitback
Regards
Hitback
The visit to the HoC to meet with Nick Harvey went very well and I also managed to ambush Mark Harper in the Cafe. Dr L Fox was giving an interview to the BBC so I was unable to get to talk with him. I will be placing a detailed report on what we spoke about, in the next couple of day's.
Regards
Hitback
Regards
Hitback
My meeting with Nick Harvey went well and the points I covered are below.
1. The JSHAO requires to cover a greater area. This can be done by attaching a team to the CDT group. They visit all military location in a year.
2. The LSAP is not a tax free loan at all, only the first 5k is the rest is paid back with interest.
3. MoD Nomination Scheme is over stretched and is unable to manage with the large numbers requiring housing. All you have to do is look at their waiting lists.
4. The KWS (Key Worker Scheme) is the governments shallow view on this very important issue. There are many service personnel that would love to get onto the Housing Ladder but are unable to get the deposit or afford the repayments. This scheme was also offered to civil servants at five times the number of service personnel permitted, WHY?
There will be some tabled questions on this area very soon, also how many service personnel have used the KWS in relation to civil servants!!!
5. The Homelessness Legislation Amendment of (2002) Vulnerable peoples act is a white wash. The wording is key to its failure or should I say spin. Specific Consideration. This word means to look at but not having to act upon its findings.
6. In a letter dated 9th May 2006. The Government believed only a small amount of service leavers find it hard to get housing. I believe the Government requires to open its eyes and its ears, and listen and look twice as hard as it talks. Only 9% of other ranks and 18% of Officers with in the Army own their own property. In a Continuous Attitude Survey 37% of responding Officers and 48% other ranks were either fairly or very dissatisfied with their prospects for buying or even renting a house.
7. The area of single service leavers hasn't been touched upon by any of the Political Parties. I believe if RSL's allowed group tenancies controlled by Forces Charities this would go a long way in helping single soldiers back into civilian life. I will be putting together a detailed plan of how this would work. If you are interested then please contact me.
Annington Homes Plc was covered in detail and some questions will be asked, I'm sure of that.
1. The profit shared agreement. 1996 - 2004 the Chancellor made 100 million whilst service personnel only got 1% for every full 10 years served!
a. Why is the profit not being used to off set a greater discount for service leavers?
b. Why are service tenants not being given first refusal of properties they once rented?
c. Why is the MoD repairing property that is to be handed back to Annington Homes. Whilst service families and single personnel live in run down holes. Annington have stated that they invest on average 15k per property before placing them on the market. So what bloody state are these house's in and why should service personnel have to live in them.
2. What happened to the 1.6bn the properties were sold for?
3. The selling on of military locations has nothing to do with the restructure of the Brigades etc. It all has to do with the Profit Shared Agreement (PSA) and the governments contract to regenerate labour seats around the country. The (PSA) ends in less than 5 years time. After this date the government will receive nothing from Annington Homes Plc.
Regards
Hitback
1. The JSHAO requires to cover a greater area. This can be done by attaching a team to the CDT group. They visit all military location in a year.
2. The LSAP is not a tax free loan at all, only the first 5k is the rest is paid back with interest.
3. MoD Nomination Scheme is over stretched and is unable to manage with the large numbers requiring housing. All you have to do is look at their waiting lists.
4. The KWS (Key Worker Scheme) is the governments shallow view on this very important issue. There are many service personnel that would love to get onto the Housing Ladder but are unable to get the deposit or afford the repayments. This scheme was also offered to civil servants at five times the number of service personnel permitted, WHY?
There will be some tabled questions on this area very soon, also how many service personnel have used the KWS in relation to civil servants!!!
5. The Homelessness Legislation Amendment of (2002) Vulnerable peoples act is a white wash. The wording is key to its failure or should I say spin. Specific Consideration. This word means to look at but not having to act upon its findings.
6. In a letter dated 9th May 2006. The Government believed only a small amount of service leavers find it hard to get housing. I believe the Government requires to open its eyes and its ears, and listen and look twice as hard as it talks. Only 9% of other ranks and 18% of Officers with in the Army own their own property. In a Continuous Attitude Survey 37% of responding Officers and 48% other ranks were either fairly or very dissatisfied with their prospects for buying or even renting a house.
7. The area of single service leavers hasn't been touched upon by any of the Political Parties. I believe if RSL's allowed group tenancies controlled by Forces Charities this would go a long way in helping single soldiers back into civilian life. I will be putting together a detailed plan of how this would work. If you are interested then please contact me.
Annington Homes Plc was covered in detail and some questions will be asked, I'm sure of that.
1. The profit shared agreement. 1996 - 2004 the Chancellor made 100 million whilst service personnel only got 1% for every full 10 years served!
a. Why is the profit not being used to off set a greater discount for service leavers?
b. Why are service tenants not being given first refusal of properties they once rented?
c. Why is the MoD repairing property that is to be handed back to Annington Homes. Whilst service families and single personnel live in run down holes. Annington have stated that they invest on average 15k per property before placing them on the market. So what bloody state are these house's in and why should service personnel have to live in them.
2. What happened to the 1.6bn the properties were sold for?
3. The selling on of military locations has nothing to do with the restructure of the Brigades etc. It all has to do with the Profit Shared Agreement (PSA) and the governments contract to regenerate labour seats around the country. The (PSA) ends in less than 5 years time. After this date the government will receive nothing from Annington Homes Plc.
Regards
Hitback
The following is the DCLG Press Release sent to all military location. I find it strange how Mr Twigg states he wanted this legislation to be changed for some time. However, In the letter that have been placed on here over the past year, he has stated that the MoD has a lot of option open to forces personnel when looking for housing!!
Regards
hitback
Regards
hitback
The following must be from the recent debate the government has just had on housing issues.
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Hitback
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/16/nhomes116.xml
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Hitback
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/16/nhomes116.xml
I got this from another site.
Regards
Hitback
The report was published on 27 July 07:
Full report:
http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/nao_reports/06-07/0607618.pdf
Executive summary:
http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/nao_reports/06-07/0607618es.pdf
At least they have acknowledged that the survey would only reach those who had a settled address however that doesn't stop them from also saying that few people have problems finding accommodation. My bold:
3.2 We asked Service Leavers how satisfied they were with their current living accommodation. We recognise that, by the nature of a postal survey, the results are likely to be skewed towards those Service Leavers who have stable accommodation and should be read in that light. The majority (87 per cent) of survey respondents were satisfied with their current living accommodation, including 68 per cent who were very satisfied. Of the 13 per cent who were not satisfied the top three reasons stated were ‘too small’ (39 per cent), ‘undesirable area’ (22 per cent) or ‘too expensive’ (20 per cent). We also asked Service Leavers if being in the Services had affected their ability to obtain suitable housing, 16 per cent said it had helped, 15 per cent felt it had hindered them and the remainder said it had had no effect.
A significant proportion of Service Leavers do not require housing support on leaving the Services.
Point to note - look at the response to the survey figures on page 51 of the full report:
38,153 surveys sent out and only 4,997 returned - that's 13%!!
I wonder how many of the 87% that didn't respond couldn't because they aren't in stable acommodation and therefore didn't get the survey.
Regards
Hitback
The report was published on 27 July 07:
Full report:
http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/nao_reports/06-07/0607618.pdf
Executive summary:
http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/nao_reports/06-07/0607618es.pdf
At least they have acknowledged that the survey would only reach those who had a settled address however that doesn't stop them from also saying that few people have problems finding accommodation. My bold:
3.2 We asked Service Leavers how satisfied they were with their current living accommodation. We recognise that, by the nature of a postal survey, the results are likely to be skewed towards those Service Leavers who have stable accommodation and should be read in that light. The majority (87 per cent) of survey respondents were satisfied with their current living accommodation, including 68 per cent who were very satisfied. Of the 13 per cent who were not satisfied the top three reasons stated were ‘too small’ (39 per cent), ‘undesirable area’ (22 per cent) or ‘too expensive’ (20 per cent). We also asked Service Leavers if being in the Services had affected their ability to obtain suitable housing, 16 per cent said it had helped, 15 per cent felt it had hindered them and the remainder said it had had no effect.
A significant proportion of Service Leavers do not require housing support on leaving the Services.
Point to note - look at the response to the survey figures on page 51 of the full report:
38,153 surveys sent out and only 4,997 returned - that's 13%!!
I wonder how many of the 87% that didn't respond couldn't because they aren't in stable acommodation and therefore didn't get the survey.
M
mumof4
Guest
Whether this has any relevance to the thread..i dont know..Here are the experiences i have had so far in dealing with councils through trying to finds accomodation/get on lists after i recieved my notice to vacate which runs out next month.
Homelessness as i have been informed today...does not make you a priority.I have been told that i qualify to go on a band B catagory which has an average waiting time of 5 years.
As i have grown up in the forces and lived in service accomodation all my life..i have no local connections to anywhere.Apart from where my father lives..even there i would have to wait 5 yrs before being offered council housing.
The local council here have given me nil points as i am not a priority.
I have so far gone through the MOD Nomination scheme..Haig homes and have SSAFA trying to help me.
I have been told today that Shelter can back me and may be able to help me get to where i want to go where i have friends to support me, but no local connections.But this is a long shot.
Service personnel are not the only ones here having probs trying to get help..im trying to highlite here that me and other estranged spouses..have problems aswell...at the mo i and others are being shat on from a great height.
Homelessness as i have been informed today...does not make you a priority.I have been told that i qualify to go on a band B catagory which has an average waiting time of 5 years.
As i have grown up in the forces and lived in service accomodation all my life..i have no local connections to anywhere.Apart from where my father lives..even there i would have to wait 5 yrs before being offered council housing.
The local council here have given me nil points as i am not a priority.
I have so far gone through the MOD Nomination scheme..Haig homes and have SSAFA trying to help me.
I have been told today that Shelter can back me and may be able to help me get to where i want to go where i have friends to support me, but no local connections.But this is a long shot.
Service personnel are not the only ones here having probs trying to get help..im trying to highlite here that me and other estranged spouses..have problems aswell...at the mo i and others are being shat on from a great height.
Its a bit poor when alysum seekers and prisoners get a higher priority than the military but its true. Mind you there more votes in prisoners (i.e more of them)
If we had nto got such a crap deal with annigton *rip off* homes then we coudl of realeased old quarters to leaving service personnel.
R
rogerslimprs
Guest
It really is disgusting the way the government treats service personnel when they leave and join the rest of the civvies.
We have done our time serving our country and now need our country to serve us. NO CHANCE. All the government wants is to live for the day, not for tomorrow. It only cares about you today, not tomorrow. It stinks.
It was no better when I left in 1978. I had exactly the same problems, brought up by an army father, no contacts in civvy street and no cash in the bank.
Fortunately, I applied for a job in Peterborough which was a development area at the time and if you got a job there, they just gave you a house as well, no questions asked. In fact, I was asked to go to Peterborough before my terminal leave commenced and pick a house from a whole new development of empty houses just waiting for allocation. I doubt that is any help to people today, but it may still apply if these things are anywhere near where you want to be.
As for the point you raise, it is just a damned disgrace the way service personnel are treated.
We have done our time serving our country and now need our country to serve us. NO CHANCE. All the government wants is to live for the day, not for tomorrow. It only cares about you today, not tomorrow. It stinks.
It was no better when I left in 1978. I had exactly the same problems, brought up by an army father, no contacts in civvy street and no cash in the bank.
Fortunately, I applied for a job in Peterborough which was a development area at the time and if you got a job there, they just gave you a house as well, no questions asked. In fact, I was asked to go to Peterborough before my terminal leave commenced and pick a house from a whole new development of empty houses just waiting for allocation. I doubt that is any help to people today, but it may still apply if these things are anywhere near where you want to be.
As for the point you raise, it is just a damned disgrace the way service personnel are treated.
mumof4, If your children are still at school and living with you, then you have a priority for housing. The point I have made throughout this campaign is service personnel and their families, the fact you are no longer with a service person is, and should be, neither her nor there. The time you spent as a service partner or child off, shouldn't be permitted to disadvantage your chances of being housed. I would advise you to contact your MP and explain whats being stated by the Housing Association/ Local Council.
As the legislation stands at present, we who serve in the forces to include family members, are disadvantaged treated with disdain and this disgracefull attitude requires to be addressed. The Government has already said that in their survey they found that Local Authorities were treating forces personnel and their families unfairly.
mumof4, if you would like to know who to blame for this current crises, then look no further than the Tories who sold on SFA to Annington Homes Plc, who I would also like to point out has two very senior ex-officers at the healm. Also look at the Labour Party for their lack of investiment in social housing and their disgraceful open boarders and Political Correctness of priority for all whom wish to live here from abroad.
This issue will continue to affect civilian and military personnel for many many years. At least the campaign has highlighted the issue and the Government will be amending the Homelessness Legislation 199(2)&(3) (which has been in place since 1978) in the near future.
Regards
Hitback
As the legislation stands at present, we who serve in the forces to include family members, are disadvantaged treated with disdain and this disgracefull attitude requires to be addressed. The Government has already said that in their survey they found that Local Authorities were treating forces personnel and their families unfairly.
mumof4, if you would like to know who to blame for this current crises, then look no further than the Tories who sold on SFA to Annington Homes Plc, who I would also like to point out has two very senior ex-officers at the healm. Also look at the Labour Party for their lack of investiment in social housing and their disgraceful open boarders and Political Correctness of priority for all whom wish to live here from abroad.
This issue will continue to affect civilian and military personnel for many many years. At least the campaign has highlighted the issue and the Government will be amending the Homelessness Legislation 199(2)&(3) (which has been in place since 1978) in the near future.
Regards
Hitback
URGENT ACTION NEEDED
The ammendment of the Homelessness Legislation is going to be very minor indeed. I have been informed via a third source, (a very reliable one), that only those members of the armed forces who are already registered with a housing authority will be permitted a local connection.
If you have still not registered with your preferred housing authority, then you require to do so BEFORE THE END OF THIS WEEK. If you require to find out their address or which one you need to register with, you can look them up on the local council web site or contact the JSHAO and ask them.
I hope the CoC will be looking into this legislation change! They have a duty of care to all those that serve, including spouses and children of their soldiers. If I'm correct and the government is pulling this fast ball, then it will require CGS to confront the housing Minister and Mr Twigg!
This is the kind of trick the Labour Party would pull.
Regards
Hitback
The ammendment of the Homelessness Legislation is going to be very minor indeed. I have been informed via a third source, (a very reliable one), that only those members of the armed forces who are already registered with a housing authority will be permitted a local connection.
If you have still not registered with your preferred housing authority, then you require to do so BEFORE THE END OF THIS WEEK. If you require to find out their address or which one you need to register with, you can look them up on the local council web site or contact the JSHAO and ask them.
I hope the CoC will be looking into this legislation change! They have a duty of care to all those that serve, including spouses and children of their soldiers. If I'm correct and the government is pulling this fast ball, then it will require CGS to confront the housing Minister and Mr Twigg!
This is the kind of trick the Labour Party would pull.
Regards
Hitback
Now that the social groups out there are getting involved with immigration and social housing stock, we [ forces personnel and their families] shall be placed at the bottom of the waiting list once again, not that we got of the bottom but we could have. Email your MPs and ask for an update on the amendments to the homelessness legislation. We need to keep our voices in their ears.
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Hitback
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Hitback
EDM 288 will finish next week after the Queens speech. It will be getting re-introduced for the following years. I will update the site on its new EDM number and what it states. We will all have to start from the begining again, so please be ready to email your MPs asking them for their support on the new EDM.
Regards
Hitback
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Hitback
M
mumof4
Guest
Just thought id update on my housing problem.Yesterday i was told that because i live in forces accomodation, was brought up in the forces and married into it, anywhere i have lived does not give me a local connection to that place, even the house i live in now.I have been told that i come under different rules and that untill i have a 28 day notice to quit the councils and houseing associations will do nothing as they will argue amongst themselves over who has to rehouse me.
I was told that i will end up in a hostel with all my kids for a min of 6 months before being given a house this is so the councils can work out who has to rehouse me.
I have a daughter who has possible autism ( she is undergoing diagnosis) and to be put into a hostel for a few months then a house will seriously affect her.
I have an interview with a housing officer next week to clarify where exactly i stand in regards to who has to rehouse me.I intend to ask for written confirmation of these rules i come under and find out exactly what they are.
The whole situation is a minefield as i will only get a 3 bed even though i have 4 kids.All the councils i have applied to all say the same, private let...even though housing ben will only pay about 350 a month towards rent.
I was told that i will end up in a hostel with all my kids for a min of 6 months before being given a house this is so the councils can work out who has to rehouse me.
I have a daughter who has possible autism ( she is undergoing diagnosis) and to be put into a hostel for a few months then a house will seriously affect her.
I have an interview with a housing officer next week to clarify where exactly i stand in regards to who has to rehouse me.I intend to ask for written confirmation of these rules i come under and find out exactly what they are.
The whole situation is a minefield as i will only get a 3 bed even though i have 4 kids.All the councils i have applied to all say the same, private let...even though housing ben will only pay about 350 a month towards rent.