Make me feel so angry this really does .. We spend [font="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"]£5 billion a year on this and we can't take care of are [/font][font="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"]own this was out of the sun today [/font]
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'I was shot five times by the Taliban ... then ended up in hostel where thieves stole my medals' — Says Mark, 37, a former sergeant who served in Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland
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[font="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]Struggle ... war hero Mark was left homeless after he couldn't find work or pay the rent[/font][font="arial, helvetica, sans-serif"]
THOUSANDS OF Britain's war heroes are living on the streets after being shamefully abandoned by the country they served, a Sun investigation has revealed.
Shockingly, we found an army of homeless men — including soldiers just back from Afghanistan — now reduced to living in sheds, by railway lines and even using their survival skills in WOODS.
Many have struggled to adapt to civilian life after their traumatic experiences on the front line.
Our investigation comes after we revealed the national scandal of up to 8,000 Ministry of Defence homes lying empty at a cost of £54million a year.
Up to a third of Britain's homeless battling to survive the bitter winter nights may be ex-service personnel.
Many have fallen through cracks in the welfare system.
They include Mark — a brilliant Household Cavalry man medically discharged last year after being shot FIVE TIMESby the Taliban in Afghanistan.
He struggled to get help for post-traumatic stress and ended up in a homeless hostel — where thieves stole his bravery medals to sell for scrap.
Another veteran told how he knocked on every door he could for months trying to find work — but ended up homeless after being sent straight to the bottom of the council housing list.
Former SAS hero Major Ken Hames, whose charity the Community Self Build Agency helps ex-soldiers construct their own homes, said: "It would shock you to know how many service personnel are sleeping rough.
"In just one weekend in Bristol recently I picked up 90 ex-soldiers living on the streets.
"One was so ill he died. That's the urban statistic. In rural areas it's believed to be even worse.
"In Devon and Cornwall I found a whole community of ex-servicemen living in the woods, surviving off their army skills and living in Arctic tents.
"When you see the plight of some individuals it's intensely moving. You've got a man who took five bullets in Afghanistan just over a year ago and now he's homeless.
"These men come out of the Army and they need re-training, rejigging and re-wiring. It's incredibly difficult.
"What we've found is that an ex-service personnel's descent into chaos is rapid. There's a loss of liberty, comrades, family — and this breeds other chaos.
"These men who end up homeless have reached the bottom. Pride stops them contacting their regiment, so much of the work with them is about regaining self-respect."
The Sun is withholding the identities of many soldiers we have interviewed about their lives on the street because they wanted to be spared publicising the shame of their plight.
Others must remain unnamed because they served in the Special Forces or with the French Foreign Legion. One wept when he described how proud he had been to serve his country — then explained how low he had now fallen.
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THOUSANDS OF Britain's war heroes are living on the streets after being shamefully abandoned by the country they served, a Sun investigation has revealed.
Shockingly, we found an army of homeless men — including soldiers just back from Afghanistan — now reduced to living in sheds, by railway lines and even using their survival skills in WOODS.
Many have struggled to adapt to civilian life after their traumatic experiences on the front line.
Our investigation comes after we revealed the national scandal of up to 8,000 Ministry of Defence homes lying empty at a cost of £54million a year.
Up to a third of Britain's homeless battling to survive the bitter winter nights may be ex-service personnel.
Many have fallen through cracks in the welfare system.
They include Mark — a brilliant Household Cavalry man medically discharged last year after being shot FIVE TIMESby the Taliban in Afghanistan.
He struggled to get help for post-traumatic stress and ended up in a homeless hostel — where thieves stole his bravery medals to sell for scrap.
Another veteran told how he knocked on every door he could for months trying to find work — but ended up homeless after being sent straight to the bottom of the council housing list.
Former SAS hero Major Ken Hames, whose charity the Community Self Build Agency helps ex-soldiers construct their own homes, said: "It would shock you to know how many service personnel are sleeping rough.
Abandoned ...
'Flipper' served three years in the Light Infantry
"In just one weekend in Bristol recently I picked up 90 ex-soldiers living on the streets.
"One was so ill he died. That's the urban statistic. In rural areas it's believed to be even worse.
"In Devon and Cornwall I found a whole community of ex-servicemen living in the woods, surviving off their army skills and living in Arctic tents.
"When you see the plight of some individuals it's intensely moving. You've got a man who took five bullets in Afghanistan just over a year ago and now he's homeless.
"These men come out of the Army and they need re-training, rejigging and re-wiring. It's incredibly difficult.
"What we've found is that an ex-service personnel's descent into chaos is rapid. There's a loss of liberty, comrades, family — and this breeds other chaos.
"These men who end up homeless have reached the bottom. Pride stops them contacting their regiment, so much of the work with them is about regaining self-respect."
The Sun is withholding the identities of many soldiers we have interviewed about their lives on the street because they wanted to be spared publicising the shame of their plight.
Others must remain unnamed because they served in the Special Forces or with the French Foreign Legion. One wept when he described how proud he had been to serve his country — then explained how low he had now fallen.
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Mark, 37, of Liverpool, told how he rose to the rank of sergeant and was decorated for bravery during 19 years in the Household Cavalry, serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland.
He was medically discharged in October last year after being shot in Afghanistan.
But a two-month waiting list for treatment for his post-traumatic stress disorder meant the war hero turned to self-medicating with drink and quickly ended up homeless.
He went into a hostel where he had his medals stolen, leaving him broken and distraught.
Mark, who does not have any children, said: "I was from a military family and there was no question I would join the Army. I was so proud to be a soldier.
"But just over a year ago I took incoming fire and was shot five times — four times in left leg, once in the other.
"I was medically discharged and came back to a world I didn't know and didn't recognise. I'm ashamed to say I crawled into a bottle. I didn't want to go on living.
"It's hard for people to understand. I was medically discharged. My life just collapsed and there was a two-month waiting list to be seen for post-traumatic stress "I struggled to find work, couldn't pay my rent and went into a homeless hostel. Within days I had my medals stolen and it tore me in two."
John, 57, of Bristol, served seven years in the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment, doing three tours of Northern Ireland, where he lost his eye to a 1974 nailbomb.
He said: "I tried to get work wherever I could after leaving the Army but my eye means I can't see what's coming from the left and I just couldn't get on the council house list.
"They said I didn't really qualify and it would take years."
John is now finally getting to know his children again after they were estranged for years.
He added: "I found it incredibly hard to adjust to civilian life. My one goal in life now is to be a painter and decorator."
Chris, 30, of Bristol, served in Afghanistan with the Rifles and also saw tours of Northern Ireland and Kosovo.
He said: "I was in the Forces for eight-and-a-half years and left the Army to work. But I struggled to find a job then found myself on the lowest rung of the housing band, with a two-year wait for a home. I ended up homeless.
"When I was in the Army I was working 100 miles an hour. Outside, the boredom and depression kicks in. It's very difficult.".
He is now studying for a bricklaying qualification after being helped out by Major Hames's charity. Danny, 35, also from Bristol, told how he could not cope alone with the switch to civilian life after tours of Northern Ireland with the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment.
He said: "I came out for a woman but everything went wrong. I got into the wrong side of life and was still looking for the adrenalin of being in the Army.
"I ended up homeless and lived in a shed for four months. I gave up. If you work, your day goes quicker."
Our investigation comes as Prime Minister David Cameron prepares to oversee a new Cabinet committee next month charged with providing extra support for heroes who leave the military.
The PM launched the personal crusade for better medical care and housing and help to find jobs after being stung by recent criticism that the Ministry of Defence have betrayed the sacrifice made by troops.
As our investigation shows, giving former soldiers the support they need to stay off the streets must be a top priority.
Building a future
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Mark, 37, of Liverpool, told how he rose to the rank of sergeant and was decorated for bravery during 19 years in the Household Cavalry, serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland.
He was medically discharged in October last year after being shot in Afghanistan.
But a two-month waiting list for treatment for his post-traumatic stress disorder meant the war hero turned to self-medicating with drink and quickly ended up homeless.
He went into a hostel where he had his medals stolen, leaving him broken and distraught.
Mark, who does not have any children, said: "I was from a military family and there was no question I would join the Army. I was so proud to be a soldier.
"But just over a year ago I took incoming fire and was shot five times — four times in left leg, once in the other.
"I was medically discharged and came back to a world I didn't know and didn't recognise. I'm ashamed to say I crawled into a bottle. I didn't want to go on living.
"It's hard for people to understand. I was medically discharged. My life just collapsed and there was a two-month waiting list to be seen for post-traumatic stress "I struggled to find work, couldn't pay my rent and went into a homeless hostel. Within days I had my medals stolen and it tore me in two."
John, 57, of Bristol, served seven years in the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment, doing three tours of Northern Ireland, where he lost his eye to a 1974 nailbomb.
He said: "I tried to get work wherever I could after leaving the Army but my eye means I can't see what's coming from the left and I just couldn't get on the council house list.
"They said I didn't really qualify and it would take years."
John is now finally getting to know his children again after they were estranged for years.
He added: "I found it incredibly hard to adjust to civilian life. My one goal in life now is to be a painter and decorator."
Chris, 30, of Bristol, served in Afghanistan with the Rifles and also saw tours of Northern Ireland and Kosovo.
He said: "I was in the Forces for eight-and-a-half years and left the Army to work. But I struggled to find a job then found myself on the lowest rung of the housing band, with a two-year wait for a home. I ended up homeless.
"When I was in the Army I was working 100 miles an hour. Outside, the boredom and depression kicks in. It's very difficult.".
Learning the trade ... Major Ken Hames has set up a charity to help ex-soldiers build their own homes
He is now studying for a bricklaying qualification after being helped out by Major Hames's charity. Danny, 35, also from Bristol, told how he could not cope alone with the switch to civilian life after tours of Northern Ireland with the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment.
He said: "I came out for a woman but everything went wrong. I got into the wrong side of life and was still looking for the adrenalin of being in the Army.
"I ended up homeless and lived in a shed for four months. I gave up. If you work, your day goes quicker."
Our investigation comes as Prime Minister David Cameron prepares to oversee a new Cabinet committee next month charged with providing extra support for heroes who leave the military.
The PM launched the personal crusade for better medical care and housing and help to find jobs after being stung by recent criticism that the Ministry of Defence have betrayed the sacrifice made by troops.
As our investigation shows, giving former soldiers the support they need to stay off the streets must be a top priority.
Building a future
Building blocks ... homeless ex-soldiers set to work on building houses for troops
DESTITUTE ex-servicemen toil on a building site all day for no pay in a pioneering project that offers a model to save homeless squaddies from the street.
Each worker will get their own home in the block of flats for an affordable £89-a-week rent.
They will also have the fees paid while they get their construction qualifications at college.
By the time the scheme for 14 flats in Bristol ends in June, they will have spent 18 months laying bricks and mortar – and had their pride restored. Major Ken Hames said: "It's not handouts – it's hard work. But many men say this has saved their lives."
Mark, 47, of Northampton, served in the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment for eight years before he was homeless.
He said: "Things were bleak. But this project turned my life around."
Pal Steve, 49, of Bristol, served three years in the Light Infantry. He said: "It's such a fantastic thing. I'm so proud."
Other projects are planned around the country.
To donate go to communityself buildagency.org.uk or call 01795 663 073.
http://www.thesun.co...s-revealed.html
DESTITUTE ex-servicemen toil on a building site all day for no pay in a pioneering project that offers a model to save homeless squaddies from the street.
Each worker will get their own home in the block of flats for an affordable £89-a-week rent.
They will also have the fees paid while they get their construction qualifications at college.
By the time the scheme for 14 flats in Bristol ends in June, they will have spent 18 months laying bricks and mortar – and had their pride restored. Major Ken Hames said: "It's not handouts – it's hard work. But many men say this has saved their lives."
Mark, 47, of Northampton, served in the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment for eight years before he was homeless.
He said: "Things were bleak. But this project turned my life around."
Pal Steve, 49, of Bristol, served three years in the Light Infantry. He said: "It's such a fantastic thing. I'm so proud."
Other projects are planned around the country.
To donate go to communityself buildagency.org.uk or call 01795 663 073.
http://www.thesun.co...s-revealed.html
