Dumfries veteran backs the Prime Minister’s vow to house homeless soldiers
More than 80% of homeless veterans waiting to be rehomed, left the forces over five years ago
A Dumfries army veteran, who was homeless after leaving the service, is backing the prime minister's pledge to give all military veterans a roof over their heads.
Paul Cronie served in the armed forces for 25 years, touring in Bosnia, Iran, and Afghanistan before leaving around 2017.
Once he completed his final tour, he found himself homeless for a while.
He says nobody should have to face coming home to nothing:
“People shouldn’t have to scrimp and save and be on the streets after serving the country for ex-amount of years, getting shot at – possibly even killed – just to end up being put on the streets.”
He highlights that no support was given to him after he left and more should be done to honour those who go to fight for the country:
“On the streets, they don’t have any life. They fought for this country to come back to this?! I wouldn’t fight for my country now if I knew it was coming to this, I don’t think half the country would either.
“It’s about time the government stood up and took ownership of their veterans instead of throwing us to the wolves.”
He thinks more should be done locally to help advertise any help:
“There are no signposts for any help in Dumfries and Galloway at all! It’s maybe about time someone stands up and says, ‘This is where you can go, this is where you can help, this is where we can house you or feed you’. But there’s nothing.”
During Sir Keir Starmer’s speech at Labour’s annual party conference, he described the issue of homelessness amongst veterans as “injustice hiding in plain sight”.
"In every town and city in this country. People who were prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, who put their lives on the line to protect us all, but who will not have a safe place to sleep tonight," he said.
“We cannot stand by and let this happen anymore."
He added: "We will repay those who served us and house all veterans in housing need. Homes will be there for heroes."
Figures show over 80% of veterans living on the streets who are referred for housing support, left the forces more than five years ago.
Cronie says: “We get a resettlement package when we leave the armed forces. Maybe under the resettlement package, there should be a failed-safe method so that soldiers don’t go on the streets from day one and maybe monitor where they are a few months later until they’re on their feet. Maybe that’s an idea to help move this forward.”