And so it begins.

Well, quite, thatbags!! The wealth of the C of E and the Catholic Church is , among other things, something that has put me off those particular establishments over the years and has changed me from a practicing Christian into a 'doubting Thomas', becoming more doubting as the years go by. I still keep my options a bit open though, perhaps old age isn't the time to be too blase!!!

Good for Banksy, how will these people manage now winter is on the way

And some of them who have fought to give ordinary Afghans a safer way of life leave without arms and legs and sound minds!

I don't think ex-servicemen get a pension or a pay-off unless they have done a number of years in the services.

It used to be 22 years service before any pension at all was paid.
I believe it changed to 5 years service, then was reduced to 2 years service to receive a pension - but the pension is preserved and not paid until 60 years of age.

So, no, forces personnel do not just leave the service and get a pay-off and a pension. That is a fallacy.
And many do leave traumatised and unable to work, marriages broken up, health destroyed - and of course, many having lived in barracks or military housing, no home either.

www.theguardian.com/society/gall/0,9730,1475566,00.html
www.soldiersoffthestreet.org/

I seem to remember the post said something like "why can't they RENT the property to ex-servicemen?", not GIVE it to them rent-free. No need to put in a meaning that wasn't there so as to argue with it (a surprisingly common pastime)

My brother in law was in the army and had a pension from when he was 50. It increased when he was 55 and he is now 60 and it has increased again, even though he left about 20 years ago.

I did not intend to start an Archbishop-bashing theme, but I was just a bit shocked that rent would be charged at all. Presumably that rent goes to the CofE as it is not the archbish's own residence, but it still seems strange to use charity funds to pay the church, when others who are offering homes to refugees are probably not charging rent, and when the church is so rich. It slightly stuck in my throat when the article went on to say that Jesus was a refugee and that had prompted this action. Hmm.

Because Elegran, homeless ex servicemen for personal reasons cannot afford to pay rent else they wouldn't be homeless would they ?

Rosequartz , those who are ill will be supported by welfare unless they are under 25 years of age, I accept this is difficult if they have drug or alcohol dependancy but I do think the cry of what about ex service is being over played , there are several charities there to support them and surely Prince Harry who only raises money for ex service could supply quite a few houses

Even quite large rooms, pretty good bedsits, in some of them.

Just saying. There seem to be several "Nellies" of various types on GN. I think it would help to define which nellie you mean.

Reading this thread just now. I got quite confused for a moment.
BothDurhamjen and Trisher referred to nellie and something nellie had posted on here. I now assume it was nigglynellie

Although the comments referred to did not sound at all like they were my views related to the actual post.

It got me tad confused.

If it's nigglie, I usually write just that, Nellie.
I'll look and see what I said.

Found it.
Mine was a quote from something Petra had said, and it was niggly, not you.

Not guilty, Nelliemoser, and neither are you.
Petra meant nigglynellie. All I did was copy and paste.

Anniebach at 09:48:08 Petra posted "If the Archbishop of Canterbury can 'rent' cottages to refugees, why can't he rent them to british homeless people.?"

and at 10:41:39 you posted "Why should ex servicemen be given free housing? The leave their jobs with a pay off and a pension, they have to do what all people changing jobs or retiring have to do."

You were the one who queried ex-servicemen having free housing - you didn't mention homeless then.

I missed a bit of Petra's post "Maybe some ex military . . ."

Elegran, the house is for homeless refugees , naturally I was referring to homeless people, why would anyone think the property should house those who have a house ?

I never said it would.

Why not carry on the half-hour argument between Petra who first mentioned renting (or "renting") to homeless british people - such as ex-servicemen - and yourself, who said "Why should ex servicemen be given free housing? They leave their jobs with a pay off and a pension, they have to do what all people changing jobs or retiring have to do."

Its not my fight - I just pointed out a non-sequitur in the exchange.

My brother in law was in the army and had a pension from when he was 50. It increased when he was 55 and he is now 60 and it has increased again, even though he left about 20 years ago
He must have done at least his 22 years - probably more - and, if it is anything like DH's won't be enough to live on without getting a job, not always easy at age 55.
It will have increased the same as retirement pensions - sorry benefits! - increased, unless he commuted a lump sum when he left, as many do to enable them to put a deposit down and buy a property. The pension would then be pegged at a very small amount (£100 per month in our case) until age 55.

So are you saying they don't deserve help if they get £100 per month and can't get another job because they're too old?

Of course, some may think they do not deserve help because they are the Army (or other services) and go out to fight.
They have been fighting insurgency in hostile places to try to help those people who are fleeing.

Yes, there are plenty of charities to help them.
There are also plenty of charities helping refugees.

rosequartz, charities helping the refugees cannot bring them into the country or house them. For those leaving the armed forces healthy can look for work as does everyone who is unemployed , those who are injured receive welfare payments as do those who suffer from mental illness, I know many of the homeless are alcoholics and this government who you do often defend could and should do more to help them. How many ex servicemen and their families are homeless ?

When do I often defend the government? I have questioned a lot of things, but not necessarily spoken in defence of any one party.

Please do not stick labels on me.

Ex-servicemen and their families are not always the ones who are homeless, but so many service families have broken up, the wives and children gone back to their roots and re-housed, the men left homeless.
I don't know numbers, but I do know that charities such as RBL, SAAFA, are flat out trying to help, thank goodness.

Just what label did I stick on you rosequartz ? I know marriage break ups are high in the army. Why are the men homeless ?

this government who you do often defend
That one.

Why are the men homeless
We're talking about ex-service personnel here - I would have thought it was obvious. Having left the Army or whatever where they have been provided with accommodation, they have nowhere to live, no money, looking for a job etc. Their marriage has come to an end - as many do, as some young wives cannot stand the stress of being separated and many young married men come back traumatised and are difficult to live with because of what they have been through trying to defend a lot of those people who are now refugees.

I am not discussing this any more, I know that the left wing of the party who follow JC would probably wish to do away with the Armed Forces. That would solve the problem wouldn't it.
There is no point in posting.

Where has JC said that he wants to disband the armed forces?

At least Nick Knowles and his team are renovating a street of houses for the ex military guys. And of course, the two princes are behind the project.