Veteran homelessness remains a pressing issue in the UK, with many veterans struggling to secure stable accommodation during the transition to civilian life. To address this, the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust), on behalf of the Office for Veterans' Affairs, established the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme. The Programme comprises Op FORTITUDE - a centralised referral pathway connecting veterans facing or at risk of homelessness with housing and support - and a portfolio of grant-funded projects offering expanded housing options, specialist support, and community integration.

Alma Economics was commissioned by the Trust to conduct a four-year evaluation of the Programme. Our Year 2 report builds on our first-year findings, combining process, impact, and economic evaluation using a mixed-methods approach.

We found that delivery and partnership working continued to improve, with support better aligned to veterans' needs. The Programme helped large numbers of veterans access and retain housing, with positive outcomes across employment, health, and wider wellbeing. Our cost-benefit analysis showed increasing benefit-cost ratios from Year 1 to Year 2, indicating strong and growing socio-economic value. Challenges remain - including limited capacity for complex needs, a shortage of move-on accommodation, and short-term funding uncertainty.

Read the report here.