A veteran sleeping rough: turning concern into practical help in Teignbridge
As the Armed Forces Covenant Champion and a former veteran, myself a recent Linkedin report that a homeless veteran had been found sleeping rough in Newton Abbot is deeply concerning.
We do not know the full circumstances, and the individual deserves privacy and respect.
But the report gives us a clear reason to remind residents, councillors and community organisations that support is available, and that knowing how to ask for it can make a real difference.
My message is straightforward: if you know a veteran in Teignbridge who is homeless, facing the loss of their home or struggling to cope, please help them contact Teignbridge District Council.
Do not assume somebody else has already made that call.
Concern should lead to contact
Sharing a social media post can raise awareness, but practical contact with the right service is what enables an assessment and a response.
A person sleeping rough may have no reliable phone, limited internet access or little confidence about approaching an organisation.
Offering to make a call alongside them, with their agreement, can help overcome that first barrier.
Please avoid posting photographs, names, medical information or sleeping locations publicly.
Share relevant information privately with the council so staff can consider the situation and appropriate support.
Compassion includes protecting someone’s dignity.
How to contact Teignbridge
During office hours, call Teignbridge District Council on 01626 361101 and ask for the Housing Options team.
Explain whether the person is already homeless, sleeping rough or likely to lose their accommodation.
Make clear that they have served in the Armed Forces.
For emergency homelessness assistance outside office hours, telephone 0330 678 2382.
If somebody has nowhere safe to sleep that night, say so clearly and ask for an urgent assessment, including whether emergency accommodation must be provided.
The council also has an online homelessness application page and a “Tell us about a rough sleeper” page.
Both can be reached through the housing section of its website, www.teignbridge.gov.uk.
If using an online form is difficult, ask the council for help accessing the service.
For immediate danger or a medical emergency, call 999.
What assistance is available?
The starting point is understanding the person’s circumstances.
Housing assistance can include advice, steps to prevent homelessness, help to secure accommodation and referrals to other support.
Depending on the legal duties owed, emergency or temporary accommodation may also be required.
It is important to be clear about what this means.
Being a veteran does not automatically guarantee an immediate home or a social housing tenancy.
Equally, people should not assume that being single, having served many years ago or lacking an obvious injury means there is no help available.
Where the council has reason to believe someone may be homeless, eligible for assistance and in priority need, it must provide interim accommodation while making further enquiries.
Vulnerability resulting from service in the regular Armed Forces can establish priority need.
The individual’s circumstances must be considered.
When seeking help, explain any health problems, disability, trauma or other difficulties that affect safety and the ability to cope without accommodation.
A trusted supporter can help someone explain their needs.
Nobody should feel they must disclose sensitive experiences on social media to be taken seriously.
Specialist support for veterans
Alongside contacting the council, veterans can approach Op FORTITUDE, the government-backed service for veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Its freephone number is 0800 952 0774, and the service operates 24 hours a day, throughout the year.
Op FORTITUDE can help connect people with appropriate housing support, including specialist veteran services, and assist them in approaching their local council.
Where suitable, it can help identify supported accommodation or support someone to maintain their existing home.
An online referral route is available through riv.org.uk/opfortitude.
This is an additional source of help alongside the council’s homelessness service.
If accommodation is needed urgently, contact the council directly as well.
A referral should not be treated as confirmation that a bed has been arranged.
Act before a crisis develops
We should also look beyond visible rough sleeping.
A veteran may be staying temporarily with friends, struggling with rent arrears or approaching the end of an arrangement that has kept a roof over their head.
These situations deserve attention before someone ends up outside.
Teignbridge asks people to complete its homelessness application if they are homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days.
Seeking advice early gives services more opportunity to explore options.
People who are worried about their housing should ask for advice rather than wait for matters to deteriorate.
What councillors and communities can do
I am asking everyone to keep these contact details accessible and share them through organisation communications, community groups and local networks.
Parish and town councils, voluntary organisations and groups supporting the Armed Forces community can help ensure this information reaches people who need it.
If a resident raises a concern, offer practical help with contacting the council.
With the person’s agreement, explain the immediate housing problem and any barriers to accessing support.
Ask what will happen next and how contact will be maintained, particularly if the person has no working phone.
Follow up where appropriate.
Passing on a telephone number may be enough for some people; others may need encouragement or assistance to complete that first conversation.
We can help without making promises about accommodation or taking over decisions that belong to the individual.
A shared responsibility
Everyone experiencing homelessness deserves safety, dignity and a fair assessment of their needs.
Recognising the circumstances of military service is part of making sure veterans receive appropriate consideration and can access support suited to them.
The most useful response to this report is practical and compassionate.
Keep the contact numbers, share the official routes and help somebody take the next step.
If you know a veteran experiencing difficulties, please contact Teignbridge District Council and encourage them to seek help.
A conversation today could be the beginning of a more secure future.
Please pass these details to someone who might need them, and keep them available for a neighbour, friend or colleague.
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