FEANTSA member, Veterans Aid, has opened a facility for veterans in crisis following four years of fundraising to reach the £8.2m (€9.2m) needed for the project. New Belvedere House, as the facility is called, offers accommodation for 66 homeless, or imminently homeless, ex-servicemen. The House first opened in 1973 and since then has provided accommodation for around 1,500 veterans who might otherwise have been homeless. Four years ago, the building was no longer in good condition and so Veterans Aid took the decision to raise money to extend, refurbish and enhance it.
CEO of Veterans Aid Dr Hugh Milroy said, "We already know that we’ve had a profound impact on reducing the numbers of UK veterans on the streets – particularly in London - and are breaking the cycles of dependency that keep them there. Our commitment is to making homelessness among veterans a thing of the past."
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, presided over the opening and commented that “It is completely unacceptable that anyone in London - including veterans of our armed services - should have to sleep rough. The refurbished New Belvedere House will help Veterans Aid continue their invaluable work helping to ensure no UK veteran needs to sleep rough in the capital, and I am pleased to be supporting their unique programme."
