Hundreds of Welsh veterans sleeping rough on the streets.

'It is shameful and a national disgrace': Hundreds of Welsh veterans sleeping rough on the streets says Wales online.

Hundreds of former soldiers in Wales are currently sleeping rough on the streets, according to a veterans charity.



Stan Davies, Mark Ashworth, Les Standish and John Rogers slept rough for a week to raise awareness about homelessness among ex-soldiers.

They risked their lives fighting for their country - but hundreds of ex-soldiers in Wales are currently sleeping on the streets, according to a charity.

Estimates from Denbighshire-based charity Soldiers Off The Street suggest that 10,000 former soldiers are currently homeless in the UK, representing around 10% of the total homeless population.

“These guys fought for their country – it is shameful that they have to rely on charities,” said Les Standish, a veteran who also volunteers for the organisation.

“When you come out of the Army, you expect to be looked after.”

The 53-year-old from Rhyl won the Military Medal while serving in the Falklands War, but has been homeless three times since leaving the Army.

Les served in the parachute regiment for 10 years and worked his way up to the rank of corporal, after completing two tours of Ireland and fighting in the Falklands.

But his problems started after he left the Army in 1986, when he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), separated from his wife and lost his house.



Les Standish served in the parachute regiment from 1976 to 1986.

“I had no help from the Government and I had to rely on charities,” he said.

He managed to get back on his feet, but suffered a serious relapse of PTSD in 2008, when his second marriage broke down and he found himself homeless again.

“I had to live in my van for six months,” he recalled. “It was a very difficult time.”

After seeking help from Soldiers Off The Street, he managed to find a flat, but is now jobless and homeless for a third time, after a spell working abroad.

“I am currently sleeping on a friend’s sofa,” he said.

“I don’t want to claim benefits. I’m desperate to find a job, but I’m repeatedly told that I’m too old or overqualified.

“All my life since leaving the Army, I’ve wanted to settle but the door has constantly been shut in my face. “If it wasn’t for charities like Soldiers Off The Street, I would have given up a long time ago, like so many of my brothers who fought in the Falklands have done.”

The Government introduced the Armed Forces Covenant in 2011, aiming to give priority to veterans with urgent housing needs, but Les claims he has not been helped by the legislation.

He added: “I can’t claim anything at all, despite the government promising us priority housing.

“I’m not the only case – there are thousands in need of help. I feel the government is just brushing the problem under the carpet. This is shameful and a national disgrace.”

Last month, Les slept rough on the streets of Chester for a week to raise awareness about the plight of homeless ex-soldiers.

He was joined by two other volunteers – Stan Davies, who served in Bosnia, and Mark Ashworth, who served in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq.

“Soldiers are trained to survive outdoors, but when you do that training, you never think you will be using it to survive on the street,” he reflected.

“The first two nights, we stayed in doorways, but we barely slept because of the noise of people coming out of clubs. We were tired all the time.

“Once it rains, it is impossible to get warm and dry. We were only doing it for a week, but these guys do it every day of the year.”

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: “We know the vast majority of our troops go on to success on their return to civilian life. However we recognise there are a small number who struggle, which is why the Government has a wide range of support schemes in place.

“It is also why this Government enshrined the Armed Forces Covenant in law. Under the Covenant, councils give preference to veterans with urgent housing needs, and give seriously injured veterans high priority for social housing. It is down to councils dealing with veterans who bravely served their country to deliver on their promise.”

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/it-shameful-national-disgrace-welsh-8240384#ICID=sharebar_twitter

It seems the councils are neglecting their promises then from what I can see.

The question must be asked why councils are neglecting their promises.

My immediate thought on this is the availability of houses. It is common knowledge that their is a shortage of council houses. Adding to that the commercial housing with its over inflated house prices has made it very difficult to provide for such individuals. Giving veterans priority for a home is just a gesture that the Government could not uphold.

There still is enough space to build these houses to accommodate everyone. Sadly I feel the commercial sector is preventing or more like pressurising the Governments of the day to not build further council housing so they can continue their exploitation of the home built market forcing the population into a lifetime of debt to themselves.

This is why the do-gooders make me angry when they go on about letting refugees in.Theres enough hardship amoung our own and they should be attended to first

This is why the do-gooders make me angry when they go on about letting refugees in.Theres enough hardship amoung our own and they should be attended to first

exactly, if you want to help refugees and migrants, go with everyones blessing and seek asylum over there in their country and help them out - start looking after our own first!

Help for Heroes ? Countless other military charities ? where's all the money going

One of them chose not to take benefits thus living in the way he is now, why didn't he take it up? It's meant to help.

One of them chose not to take benefits thus living in the way he is now, why didn't he take it up? It's meant to help.

I suppose it's called pride. Having to sign on can be so degrading for some.

The question must be asked why councils are neglecting their promises.

Can't afford it. The UK is financially up the wall and no party has the balls to tackle it properly because its a sure way to lose votes. The higher the debt to GDP ratio, the more the population get squeezed financially leading to more pressures, an increase in regulation to put costs on SME's, less disposable income and higher taxes to claw back the money. Anyone telling you this doesn't matter is deluded beyond belief. It adds to the pressure put on you to just exist, it pushes people into depression and suicide and it leads to all sorts of breakdowns in society such as more crime (which often goes unreported now because a lot of people don't see the point in getting the police involved) and pressures on schools, transport, GP surgeries etc. due to a lack of investment. In short, when you are servicing a massive debt plus interest the money isn't getting spent where it should be getting spent. Life in the UK is tough even if it is materialistically rich.

Help for Heroes ? Countless other military charities ? where's all the money going

Into the pockets of the corrupt.

Help for Heroes ? Countless other military charities ? where's all the money going

Into the pockets of the corrupt.

I've loads of t-shirts, wrist bands but after the proceeds are taking out for administrating costs etc then the the actual money towards said charity or the attended victims is perfective. The front line that it's intended for is totally ignored. I've stopped buying from 'Help The Heros' as it's just another c**t organization.

Help for Heroes ? Countless other military charities ? where's all the money going

Into the pockets of the corrupt.

I've loads of t-shirts, wrist bands but after the proceeds are taking out for administrating costs etc then the the actual money towards said charity or the attended victims is perfective. The front line that it's intended for is totally ignored. I've stopped buying from 'Help The Heros' as it's just another c**t organization.

and you have proof of this ?

Help for Heroes ? Countless other military charities ? where's all the money going

Into the pockets of the corrupt.

I've loads of t-shirts, wrist bands but after the proceeds are taking out for administrating costs etc then the the actual money towards said charity or the attended victims is perfective. The front line that it's intended for is totally ignored. I've stopped buying from 'Help The Heros' as it's just another c**t organization.

and you have proof of this ?

It's like all other organisations, prime example the overseas aid budget, biggest rip off ever. £11 billion, most of it is siphoned of before the people that it's intended for see a penny.

Two people from Cardiff set-up help the heroes didn't they ?

Help for Heroes ? Countless other military charities ? where's all the money going

Into the pockets of the corrupt.

I've loads of t-shirts, wrist bands but after the proceeds are taking out for administrating costs etc then the the actual money towards said charity or the attended victims is perfective. The front line that it's intended for is totally ignored. I've stopped buying from 'Help The Heros' as it's just another c**t organization.

and you have proof of this ?

It's like all other organisations, prime example the overseas aid budget, biggest rip off ever. £11 billion, most of it is siphoned of before the people that it's intended for see a penny.

I asked for proof an all I get is the above , Foreign Aid going to overseas countries has no bearing what so ever on home grown charities and certainly nothing to do with Help For Heroes . I have no doubt as we're seen recently that some Charities have become their own worse enemy with the bad publicity but comments lumping all charities as being the same is disingenuous in the extreme . Have you any idea how much is raised by HFH and the costs associated with rehabilitation ? 98% of monies raised is given in grants for such help .

Help for Heroes ? Countless other military charities ? where's all the money going

Into the pockets of the corrupt.

I've loads of t-shirts, wrist bands but after the proceeds are taking out for administrating costs etc then the the actual money towards said charity or the attended victims is perfective. The front line that it's intended for is totally ignored. I've stopped buying from 'Help The Heros' as it's just another c**t organization.

and you have proof of this ?

They all do it to pay for advertising etc. That's why the big ones are more well known. It still makes them more money in the long run tho

One of them chose not to take benefits thus living in the way he is now, why didn't he take it up? It's meant to help.

I suppose it's called pride. Having to sign on can be so degrading for some.

More degrading than sleeping on the street?... Like blue1908 said it's there for people like him to help them.

One of them chose not to take benefits thus living in the way he is now, why didn't he take it up? It's meant to help.

I suppose it's called pride. Having to sign on can be so degrading for some.

More degrading than sleeping on the street?... Like blue1908 said it's there for people like him to help them.

Everyone is different. I'd take the help if it was offered it I was in the same predicament.

One of them chose not to take benefits thus living in the way he is now, why didn't he take it up? It's meant to help.

I suppose it's called pride. Having to sign on can be so degrading for some.

More degrading than sleeping on the street?... Like blue1908 said it's there for people like him to help them.

Living on the streets would be more degrading IMO, having to ask for money on the street. Whereas taking benefits(which could easily be paid back by getting a job role somewhere down the line and maybe re-training for example, he could work on computers etc. Being on the street means he has nowhere for his family to meet him. Maybe de-grading but it's a genuine story, some are on benefits and live a life off of them but the money he'd receive help him become able to turn it around and he'd be able to pay it back by contributing.

ex-armed forces would have access to more help than others sleeping rough. The topic of homelessness is a mental health issue that the government ignores due to the cost

Sorry this is complete bollocks. Most of the homeless people in Cardiff are complete wankers and pissheads who haven't worked a day in their lives let alone been in the army.

Besides, you admit one of them turned down government help due to pride. What the f**k do you expect the government to do if he won't accept their help.

One of them chose not to take benefits thus living in the way he is now, why didn't he take it up? It's meant to help.

I suppose it's called pride. Having to sign on can be so degrading for some.

More degrading than sleeping on the street?... Like blue1908 said it's there for people like him to help them.

Everyone is different. I'd take the help if it was offered it I was in the same predicament.

Yeh everyone is different, but the homeless guy is refusing the government's help in an article stating the government is not helping enough. He calls it pride, some may call it stupidity.

Our Governments have never looked after our own, but will be welcoming in tens of thousands of people from the religion of peace, and are throwing hundreds of millions at it, the true cost will be hidden no doubt.

As a former member of the armed forces who myself completed a tour in Ireland in 80, I've found no one give a flying £uck what you've done for your country. The only ones who really have sympathy in general, are people who are currently serving, or have served and families of those who've served. The majority don't care and to be honest I can understand why they don't care.

To serve in any theatre of war, the psychological scars for many are always there and often can hit people much later on, in some case 30 years later. There is a big difference between training for war and then suddenly you're actually doing it for real. Fear, excitement and adrenaline, all rolled into one, you have to experience it to know what i'm talking about.

Also, to see politicians at the Cenotaph every year for their photoshoot makes me sick.