UK:Homeless veterans still sleeping rough

Homeless veterans still sleeping rough

Alexandra Topping
The Guardian,
Wednesday June 25, 2008
The number of homeless ex-forces veterans in London has dropped dramatically, but the group remains vulnerable and hard to reach, according to new research. The percentage of former service personnel in London's homeless population has dropped from 22% in 1997 to 6% in 2007, according to a study by York University. The number of homeless veterans remained significant, however, with an estimated 1,100 non-statutory homeless ex-service personnel living in London on any given night.

Only one in six homeless veterans cited problems adjusting to civilian life as the cause of their difficulties, and only a small minority suffered from military-related problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder. But a military background had an impact on how veterans experience homelessness, with many considering themselves better equipped to deal with the hardships of street life and less inclined to seek help.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jun/25/housing.communities?commentpage=1