Worthless "covenant" in Scotland

Hero Scots Guard's pain as family are told they face 15-year wait for a council house

JASON EADIE served in the Army for 24 years and has a son suffering cerebral palsy, but has been told he faces a gruelling wait to get on the social housing ladder.

Jason Eadie with his family

A FORMER Scots Guard whose young son has cerebral palsy has been told his family must wait 15 years for a council house.
Jason Eadie, who served in the Army for 24 years, was horrified after council bosses told him that his military service and his son’s plight would not help him to get on to the social housing ladder.
The Record revealed yesterday that another war hero Calum Grant and his family were also given short shrift by housing chiefs.
Both have been left to live in cramped conditions, despite the Military Covenant guaranteeing decent treatment for veterans.
Regimental quartermaster sergeant Jason left the Army in April after a gruelling tour in Afghanistan working to safeguard the infamous Route 601.
He gave up his career to help wife Naomi with the care of son Mason, three, who has cerebral palsy and is registered blind.
Jason, 40, from Bearsden, near Glasgow, who also has two daughters Tamsin, five, and Sommer, 11, said: “We were given short shrift by the council. The Military Covenant and the duty of care to armed forces veterans is something that clearly is just dusted off when politicans want votes.
“The council weren’t interested in the fact I’d just left the forces or that my wee boy has cerebral palsy. I was just told my application for social housing was refused and there was a never-ending waiting list.
“I was told it takes 15 years to get to the top of the waiting list. They asked me to give notice to quit the private rented accommodation I am in, then I can register as homeless.
“It is a disgrace. For 24 years I have paid all my taxes and served my country but, when it comes to it, you get no help at all. They say that they will help you put the family first but that’s nonsense.
“Any help that people get coming out the forces seems to be focused on single guys – there is very little assistance for families like mine. This is a national problem but councils would rather pass the buck and try to say it’s nothing to do with them.”

Jason Eadie

  Campaigners estimate that as many as 5000 ex-servicemen and women are homeless or even sleeping rough in Scotland.
We revealed that fellow soldier Calum Grant, his wife Vicky and their children Macy and Jake are facing homelessness after struggling to find a council house.
The former 4 Scots soldier left his barracks in Germany and came home to Scotland to build a new life, only to find that council bureaucrats told him he faced a wait of up to nine years for a home.
West Lothian Council bosses said former soldiers were not a priority for council housing despite the introduction by the Con-Dem Government of the Military Covenant into law in November last year.
The covenant is supposed to recognise that Britain owes a “duty of care” to troops while ensuring veterans are not discriminated against in housing, education or healthcare.
Jason, who joined the Army at 16 and served with 1st Battalion, Scots Guards in Northern Ireland and the Gulf as well as Afghanistan, said: “In Scotland, councils are not interested if you are an ex-soldier.
“They can say they are pro-forces and for veterans rights but the reality is they don’t care. I left the Army because of the health situation with my wee boy and they have done nothing to help.
“I’m looking for work and we are just getting by on a low income but something has to be done. It’s about time that people realised the grim reality for people who are coming out the forces.
“We are strong but families are breaking up because they get no assistance. It is happening all across Scotland all the time but nothing is being done.”
Labour defence spokeswoman Gemma Doyle MP called for a national framework to help veterans into social housing. She said: “Local authorities have to wake up to the reality of the armed forces covenant.
“There has to be a set of guidelines which councils sign up to. This would ensure a certain standard of service for people coming out of the Armed forces.”
Homeless charity Shelter said veterans were facing a struggle to find homes. Boss Graeme Brown said: “Jason’s awful experience shows the devastating impact the chronic shortage of affordable social housing in Scotland has on people’s lives.
“The only answer for ex-services personnel like Jason who have given so much for their nation, and the 157,000 households on waiting lists across Scotland, is to drastically increase the availability of social and affordable housing.
“The Scottish Government can and must invest even more than the extra £40million committed in this year’s Scottish budget to build affordable homes.”
Douglas Young, of the British Armed Forces Federation, said: “I would have thought that in Scotland – where support for the Armed forces is so strong – things would be better.
“There are further redundancy tranches on the way for the armed forces so this will be the tip of the iceberg.”
East Dunbartonshire Council housing chief Kenny Simpson said there was a huge demand for homes in his area. He added: “We’re aware of Mr Eadie’s housing position and his family circumstances.
“We are happy to meet him to explain his legal rights in relation to his existing tenancy and discuss options.”

This story has just been published in the Scottish Daily Record

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