From frontline in Afghanistan to breadline in Britain for Rifleman

“I take it that Mr Leach has had resettlement training. He already has a job as a delivery driver. Did he take voluntarily redundancy. If so he should be more prepared. Also his stay at home wife could contribute in some way as stated by someone else. As for housing he will be looked after by SSAFA and The RBL. Unfortunately once you leave the Army you are in the big wide world and have to take on New challenges. If he has been to Helmand and Northern Ireland he should be used to a bit of adversity and not go running to the press at the first stumbling block. Good luck young man.I hope you get what you want”

“There are many Armed Forces personnel who during their careers live in accomodation provided by the Armed Forces (Married Quarters or Single Service Accomodation,many of which are sub-standard but that's a whole different topic if conversation).

When such things as redundancies are announced, the personnel selected get 12 months or less to try and sort out alternative arrangements for things like places to live and re-intergration into civillian life.

Personnel who are in their mid twenties have not yet had the time to save for housing deposits, not many of them would be able to get a mortgage as their basic salary would be considered insufficient to be granted a mortgage (this would also include redundancy packages).

All this chap wants to do is find a house/flat for him and his young family to live in. He is a man who has most likely given 11 years continuous service to the Armed Forces, deployed in some really godforsaken places, through no choice of his own he is losing his job, career and home, why shouldn't he go to the top of the housing list, he has served this country, he has contributed to this country and as someone else stated the Armed Forces Covenant was created to avoid such situatons as Rifleman Leach is now facing, obviously if he has been told he doesn't qualify for a home above drug addicts and the such the Covenant is not worth the paper it is written on (well now there's a shock)

The majority of this country supports members of the Armed Forces and the selfless work they do both at home and overseas, I for one would not begruge this man or any other soon to be ex-member of the Armed Forces a home above others who have given no contribution to this country.”

“OMG people! Read the whole story, not just the sensation-seeking intro. The council are quoted as saying that drug and alcohol users DON'T get preference. Check the policy for the waiting list, there's no mention of drug and alcohol use.

And I'm not suggesting that Mr Leach would have to live off his redundancy pay (I assume he'll be working or claim benefits) but should be expected to help himself where he can rather than go cap in hand for subsidised accommodation. I would hope that funds are available to those on discharge from the services for exactly this purpose. Social housing should be for those who have no other option.”

“I wonder how many ex soldiers turn to drugs/alcohol after their army career, to help them try and block the horrendous experiences many have suffered and witnessed on the front line and to help them adjust to civilian life, but haven't received the help they needed because of a failing support system. There's clearly a lack in help for them, not just in housing but in all areas, including specialist mental health support if they want it.”

“For crying out loud, words fail me. What is wrong with this country that it supports lame ducks as standard. I can understand people who are disabled or have medical condtions being a priority, and therefore gold status. But alcoholics and drug addicts, pretty much self inflicted conditions. There is enough information and advertising available to inform people of the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Yet they still break the law by taking drugs or they abuse alcohol. Rifleman Jonathan Leach has served his country and risked his life in Afghanistan. He should be given platinum status. Typical of this country to reward the undeserving, and not those who have actually done something useful for their country.”

“This is terrible I wish you all the best in your new life, you truly are more deserving than a drug addict. Just out of curiosity I notice that your wife doesn't work, could she not get a part time job to help out?”

“Rifleman Leach will NOT be recieving thousands as a redundancy package, his redundancy pay will be worked out according to rank and time served. What he will eventually receive as a payout would probably not last him 2 years if he has to use it to pay bills and rent/mortgage.”

“"Emergency"-not "Gold"- is the highest banding-and Rifleman Leach and family would seem to qualify.
Suggests he appeals his banding and gets SSAFA & British Legion support”

“@Mike_Smith_Gl entry level recruits cost less, and it looks good on the young peoples' employment figures.”

“Great opportunity to bash a council, I can't believe people have fallen into the trap!
Let's have some balance. Nowhere in the bottom two paragraphs does it say that Mr Leach will be refused a service when he needs it, nearer the time that he'll be homeless. It does clearly state that priority is not given to those with drug or alcohol issues. There's no mention of if Mr Leach is getting a redundancy pay out. £1000s I'll bet. Why can't he use some of that money to help his family?

If another family with £1000s in the bank was demanding help and running to the papers then there would be countless comments against them!”