Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to ensure that all military veterans, young care leavers, and victims of domestic abuse will have a “guaranteed roof over their head.” Speaking at the Labour Party conference, Starmer pledged to change local connection rules that prevent many in these vulnerable groups from accessing social housing.
Currently, armed forces veterans are only exempt from these local connection rules for five years after leaving service, a regulation that often leaves those who served longer ago at a disadvantage. Under the new proposal, all veterans in need will be exempt, alongside care leavers and victims of domestic abuse, who often need to move for their safety.
Starmer highlighted the issue of homelessness among veterans, calling it an “injustice hiding in plain sight” and promising that “homes will be there for heroes.” He emphasized that those who served the country or faced domestic abuse deserve security and a safe place to live.
While the policy was welcomed by charities supporting veterans, care leavers, and domestic abuse victims, housing charity Shelter warned that this change alone will not solve the larger issue of a lack of social housing. Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, urged the government to focus on building more social rent homes, emphasizing that the rule changes must be accompanied by investment in affordable housing.
Labour has committed to building 1.5 million new homes over the next five years but has not yet set a target specifically for social housing. Social housing rents are set below market rates, providing a more affordable option for those in need.
The announcement has been praised by charities, including Help for Heroes, Women’s Aid, and Become, which have all called it a positive step toward addressing the challenges faced by these vulnerable groups. However, they caution that more needs to be done to address the broader issues contributing to homelessness.
