The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (The Trust) are delighted to announce two exciting new programmes under the Veterans’ Capital Housing Fund that will help increase the stock of housing available to veterans.
The grants awarded under these programmes will enable homes for veterans with a housing need to be brought up-to-date through a refurbishment grant, or will support organisations with the early-stage development of more complex building projects.
Refurbishing existing veterans’ housing
The Refurbishment Grants Programme will award grants of up to £75,000 for projects that will refurbish or extend existing accommodation for veterans. This could be transitional or permanent housing. Permanent housing can only include properties that are available to veterans under a social rent; or are part of a wider facility that provides a rented home to a veteran with the tailored support that meets their needs (this can include care homes).
You can apply to this programme if your project will:
* enable refurbishments of existing affordable homes for rent to veterans
* enable refurbishments of sites that increase the availability of veteran housing
* ensure properties meet decent homes and energy efficiency standards.
Help with development costs
The Development Grants Programme can help with the costs of getting a building idea to provide new housing for veterans to the stage where on site works could start. Grants of up to £25,000 are available for projects lasting up to one year.
You can apply to this programme if:
* your project is at an early stage of development; and
* you require funding for professional support costs such as architects, qualified construction project managers or quantity surveyors to develop detailed building plans and cost assessments for projects that would provide additional capacity in services for veterans who are at risk of homelessness.
This is a development grant programme – grants cannot be used for direct capital costs to create or refurbish buildings.
About the Veterans’ Capital Housing Fund
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust is delivering the Veterans’ Capital Housing Fund on behalf of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs. The Veterans’ Capital Housing Fund supports projects that contribute to the wider aim of ending veterans’ homelessness by providing affordable and viable homes for veterans.
More programmes will open under this Fund later in 2023 for larger new build or major refurbishment capital projects.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Rt Hon. Johnny Mercer MP said:
“Today is another important step in our commitment to ending veteran rough sleeping. £2 million worth of grants are now available to improve and help build affordable housing for veterans across the country.
“I encourage all providers of rented, social housing for veterans to apply and help us deliver part of our £20 million capital housing project. Quality housing can make a big difference in helping veterans to thrive in civilian life”
Deadlines and how to apply
There will be two rounds each of the Refurbishment Grants Programme and the Development Grants Programme this year. Organisations with a project at a mature stage of development could consider applying to the first round, and would receive a decision in 2023.
If you apply by 23 October 2023, you’ll receive a decision before the end of December 2023.
If you apply by 8 January 2024, you’ll receive a decision before the end of March 2024.
Find out more
Full details of both programmes are available on the Trust’s dedicated programme pages alongside useful guidance and further information on eligibility.
Keep up to date with funding opportunities
For the latest updates and announcements on Covenant Fund programmes, and any other funding opportunities the Trust has available throughout the year, sign up to their e-newsletter via their website www.covenantfund.org.uk