Charities are among organisations to be handed £8.7m in government funding to reduce homelessness among military veterans.

The money has been awarded as part of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s pledge to end rough sleeping. This latest announcement was made over the weekend to coincide with Armistice Day.

In addition, the PM has written to all councils in England asking them to draw up specific plans to offer accommodation to veterans sleeping rough ahead of Christmas.

The funding has been handed to Alabare, Launchpad, Veteran Housing Scotland, RBVE, SSAFA – The Armed Forces Charity, Tom Harrison House, and Wigan Council.

Alabare has confirmed that it has been awarded £1.2m in funding.

"We are really pleased to have been awarded funding from the Government’s Reducing Veterans’ Homelessness to continue our vital work supporting former military personnel who find themselves homeless, often rough sleeping," said the charity's chief executive Andrew Lord.

Alabare runs properties for former military personnel in Wales and South West England.

“No one who has served our country should be left to sleep rough on our streets,” said Burnham.

“It is a simple principle and, from now on, I am setting it as an operating principle for the whole of government, national and local.

“People who stepped forward prepared to put their lives on the line for the rest of us should never lack a roof over their head. When they need help, the country owes them more than warm words. It owes them a bed every night, a proper plan and someone in their corner from day one.”

He added: “Many councils are already doing a great job working with charities supporting the ex-forces community. With this new funding, they can take that to the next level and end the need for any veteran to sleep rough on any night.”

Other major funding awarded to homelessness charities recently, includes The Julia Rausing Trust handing £10m in grants to charities to help them tackle housing issues impacting young people.

Charities sharing this money include Centrepoint, The Rock Trust, Llamau, MACS Supporting Children, Streetlife, 1625 Independent People and Nightstop Wyre Forest and South Worcestershire.

“Through The Julia Rausing Trust, we are increasingly focusing on prevention: recognising the warning signs earlier and ensuring young people receive the right support before difficult circumstances become a crisis,” said the funder’s chief executive Simon Fourmy.

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