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Homeless in Leeds... after 15 years Army service
NO HOME: Mark Everall has been in military accommodation at RAF Leeming.
He has served his country for the last 15 years including three tours of Iraq, until being made compulsorily redundant from the Army last year.
Now Mark Everall and his family are soon to be homeless, despite trying since September to be housed by Leeds City Council, in the city they come from.
Mark, 36, a Lance-Corporal and military driver in the Royal Engineers, who has also served two years in Northern Ireland, was made redundant last September and has been allowed to stay in military accommodation, but has to move out in nine days time.
Since he signed up, he has lost two friends and a cousin in the conflict.
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Mark said: “You would think that after 15 years and after being made redundant, it would be possible to find somewhere we can call home. We are going to be staying on a relative’s conservatory floor and will be literally homeless. Cross Gates is the area we come from and where we grew up and where our relatives are. I went to John Smeaton High and this is where we want to live.
“We have put bids in for five houses, but so far have been unsuccessful. We are in a nightmare situation.”
A spokeswoman for Leeds City Council said: “Mr Everall had a housing options assessment last November. The council has a policy which gives top priority to former members of the armed forces, so Mr Everall and his family were placed on the highest priority banding for council housing. However, the area of the city where he is looking to be housed is one with very high demand, and very few suitable properties are available at the moment.
“We are aware of Mr Everall’s situation and our housing options service will work with him to let him know what his options are, and do everything possible to help him find a suitable home.”
George Mudie, MP for Leeds east, is backing their case: “I feel for the family and I think the council should be sympathetic with their situation. I have written to the housing department and also the school regarding their son.”
Some 11,000 servicemen and women and 25,000 civilian MoD staff are being made redundant through Government cuts.
The family are presently living at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire, but have to move by February 24. After that Mark, along with wife Janine and 14-year-old son Brandon, will be sleeping on a relative’s floor as they have to leave their accommodation.
The couple also have an older son Kyle, 21. Wife Janine, who has secured work with a doctor’s surgery in Leeds, added: “I cry a lot and we are sickened. You would think that after all he has done for this country, we would be given priority as we are literally homeless.” She added that private landlord accommodation was out of their budget.
Russ Murray, of the Royal British Legion in Leeds, said: “There is a need for more care for people leaving the armed forces. Each area is to have a military covenant which is the nation’s obligation to ensure ex-forces staff are not disadvantaged. Leeds is supportive of this idea.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 12 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
decolyn
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 06:39 PMtry private rented accommodation, there are some houses in the Cross Gates area with to let signs up. contact the agents, you may get lucky there.. good luck.
susiechin
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 09:15 AMThis family needs to get in touch with Haig Homes as they have housing purely for ex military in Leeds and other cities across UK I would love to know how the British Legion comment but say nothing about this as they are aware of them
mcad
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 07:53 AMMark you're the wrong colour . As white person your best bet is to pretend to be Polish or Albanian. Thanks for your loyal service mate. Pity the powers that be cannot support a loyal citizen.
freddie fly
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 06:42 PMWhat a sad indictment of those whosay in finewords they have a rehousing policy for our troops yet in reality provide money for tinkers caravan sites and houses for people who have done nothing for the country but provided cheap labour to help create what we have today in Leeds ,you can see it all the time !! Time for people to have a real say.Wake up Loiners.
John44
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 06:30 PMTypical of Leeds City Council. Here is a bloke who has put life the line for fifteen years gets made redundant and is now homeless. Surely someone out there can give them advice on what action can be taken to help with the benefit situation of which they are entitled too. Keep on at the council because if you do not they will back slide on your case. Best of British in your fight and do not let the ba@@@rds grind you down.
bramley whites
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 05:20 PMMark your unlucky you fight for your country yet the people who you was fighting against your fighting them again but this time for a house ! goodluck you deserve more than what your getting!!!!
steves.job
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 02:14 PMhopefully you're not advising them Pete thats for sure! Just because somebody qualifies for a Council property doesn't mean they qualify for housing benefit.
lufcforever
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 01:12 PMthis i a story that makes me sick here is a man who has served his country 100% and yet come from another country no problem here is a five bedroom house !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mark keep trying. ps nice top any leeds lufc landlords can help ?
tiff
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 12:37 PMWrong colour lad
petewyatt
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 12:34 PMThey should be going for housing benefit. If they qualify for a council house, they qualify for LHA. Then they can look at renting privately. Who is advising this family?
exhunslet
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 11:42 AMMaybe Ken Bates can let them have one of the empty Executive Boxes to stay in!! You've won bigger battles than this.... keep fighting to get what you all deserve.
paul quigley
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 11:20 AMfirst of all mark well done for serving your country! it makes me sick to hear stories like this day after day! now if you had been in prison or from another country you would have got a council house just like that! keep going, become a pain in the backside dont let them get you down!! and good luck for the future.
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