YOUR LETTERS: Why no homes for members of the armed forces?

As someone who is very concerned by the housing crisis, both nationally and locally, I was interested in the article (Citizen, February 26) headlined: ‘No help given for veterans’.

No members of the armed forces in urgent need of housing were let in council properties in Fenland last year, figures reveal.

This is despite at least four veterans being identified as at risk of homelessness.

The No Homeless Veterans campaign says that across Britain more than 3,000 homeless veterans could be going unreported each year.

Many end up sleeping in their car or on the streets or on someone’s sofa.

According to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Fenland was one of 178 councils which didn’t provide any lettings to members of the armed forces.

At the same time, there are more than 2,500 civilian couples, families and single people, on Fenland’s social housing waiting lists.

It’s time Fenland council woke up and took the housing crisis seriously and used its borrowing powers to build housing for both civilians and veterans alike.

A reasonable target would be 1,000 new council houses and flats within five years.

John Smithee,

Wisbech.

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