‘No Homeless Veterans’ campaign encourages public bodies to support veteran housing needs

August 24, 2026

Veterans were not always being identified when accessing housing services. 

What was the situation?

Cobseo’s Housing Cluster noticed that veterans were not always being identified when seeking housing support. This made it more difficult for housing bodies to understand their circumstances, consider needs related to Service life, and ensure the veterans were aware of the support available to them.

What made this Covenant disadvantage?

Veterans can face housing challenges due to their Service, such as being less familiar with civilian housing application processes. If housing providers are unaware that an applicant is a veteran, they may be less likely to identify these circumstances or signpost individuals to veteran-specific support. This can make it more difficult for veterans to access appropriate housing than civilians.

What was done to help?

The Cobseo Housing Cluster launched the No Homeless Veterans Campaign to improve the identification of veterans and ensure they could be signposted to improved support services.

The campaign encouraged public bodies to:

• Routinely ask applicants whether they have served in the Armed Forces
• Record and maintain the data and label veteran-specific information on their website
• Consider whether they can meet the housing needs of veterans, as well as considering any unique needs arising from Service
• Refer veterans to the Veterans’ Gateway where appropriate
• Appoint an accountable champion to ensure commitments are met
• Publish stories of support provided to veterans and their families

What was the outcome?

Housing providers improved their ability to identify veterans and consider their specific circumstances when delivering housing services. This helped veterans access enhanced support and signposting, including referral to specialist services.

Read more about the campaign here: No Homeless Veterans

Wider information

You can read more widely about:

• Covenant disadvantage and special provision (the two types of case study in this database)
• Covenant support for the Armed Forces community: Housing

Disclaimer: This case study is part of the Covenant case study database. MOD has developed the database to illustrate examples of good practice for organisations in scope of the Covenant. It serves as a guide for effective Covenant delivery, offering practical insights into achieving fairness for the Armed Forces community. Delivery of the Covenant may vary across the UK. This means there is no guarantee the solution outlined in this case study is available in your area.