06. What if I need help finding somewhere to live?

The Ministry of Defence and ex-Service welfare organisations can help with your housing needs before, during and after you are discharged.  If you are homeless or think you might become homeless, you should seek housing advice as early as possible.  You can contact the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association - Forces Help (SSAFA Forces Help) Housing Advisory Service, the Royal British Legion or Ex Service Action Group on Homelessness (ESAG) for information and advice (see 'Further help' below for details).

If you need help to find housing, local housing authorities provide free housing and homelessness advice and other assistance, such as a rent deposit scheme.  You can also apply to a local council or registered social landlord, such as a housing association, for rented housing.  However, in some areas demand for rented housing is high and it may take some time before it becomes available.

As a last resort, your local council may by law have to find you somewhere to live in the short term, until you find a settled home. Whether it does this will depend on whether:

• the council assesses you as being someone in 'priority need'; and
• you have become homeless through no fault of your own.

You are someone in priority need if you, or people you live with:

• are responsible for dependent children who normally live with you;
• are pregnant;
• are vulnerable because of old age, or mental or physical disability;
• are vulnerable because of your service in the armed forces;
• had to leave your home because of violence or the threat of violence;
• are vulnerable because you have lived in local authority care;
• are vulnerable because you have been in prison;
• lost your home in a disaster such as a flood or fire; or
• are vulnerable for other reasons.

If you need help with finding a care home or independent living accommodation, contact the Ex-Services Homes Referral Agency (ESHRA). It has information on homes and accommodation run by ex-Service organisations throughout the UK. It also has details of private and voluntary care homes, and information on sheltered accommodation throughout the UK. See 'Further help' below for details on how to contact ESHRA.