A British Army veteran has told GB News that he feels "degraded" by Bracknell Forest Council, after losing out on emergency accommodation to the Afghan Refugee Scheme.
George Ford, who was shot on a tour of Afghanistan, began suffering from severe PTSD and he was eventually forced out of the house where he shared with his long term partner.
Bracknell Forest Council have failed to find him at home, but 300 Afghans are said to have been housed at a four-star hotel in the area as part of the resettlement scheme.
Speaking to Patrick Christys, Ford hit out at the "shambles" process of the accommodation system, and the council failed to help him when his life was at "rock bottom".
British veteran George Ford has hit out at Bracknell Forest Council after failing to help him despite being at 'rock bottom'
GB News
Ford explained: "It's hard having to put myself out there, I don't want to be out here like this, and it's just been a shambles, the whole process. A couple of years ago, I approached the council, when my life had literally hit its last rock bottom.
"I was stabbed in the back, I got resuscitated, and I said this is enough, I needed some help. I went to my local authority, and they just point blank denied the Armed Forces Covenant even being signed. They said even if we did sign it, it wasn't going to get me anywhere."
The Armed Forces covenant is a "promise from the nation", that once veterans leave the armed forces they can be assigned priority housing and mental health care.
Highlighting that he has "nothing against Britain opening its doors" to refugees, Ford made clear that local councils should "prioritise local residents".
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Ford was shot on a tour of Afghanistan and began suffering from severe PTSD
George Ford / GB News
Ford stated: "I think it's really important to highlight that there's nothing wrong with us opening our doors to these people, they were under the ruling from the Taliban and they were being brutalised under horrific acts. But ultimately, we need to prioritise the local residents.
"I'm not the definition of a homeless person. I'm not living in a tent, I've still got a family and the support around me that love me and care for me, but ultimately, I need my own place. And that Armed Force Covenant is supposed to recognise that."
Stressing the emotional impact his experience is having on him, Ford told GB News: "I've been nothing but transparent with these people, and I just feel like I'm getting nowhere. The fact that I'm even on here is gut wrenching.
"It's just making me feel degraded. But in fact, these people need to be held accountable."
Ford told GB News that the council 'needs to be held accountable'
GB News
Ford added: "You can go and walk down the high street and you'll see real homeless people that are living in tents, cardboard boxes, and you'll see that there's not enough being done.
You got to understand that some of these people do need medical intervention with their mental health.
"We all go through ups and downs, but it's just been a rough ride. It really has been a rough ride."
A spokesperson for Bracknell Forest Council told GB News: "Mr Ford is currently on the housing register. Our new housing policy prioritises veterans and Mr Ford will continue to be supported to apply for properties on our online portal based on his eligibility.
"The councillors signed the Armed Forces Covenant which means that our armed forces community are treated equally and fairly.
"However it does not guarantee immediate entitlement to housing. We can confirm the council is not housing 300 Afghan people in a local hotel.
"The Ministry of Defence and Central Government scheme is running locally as part of the Afghan resettlement scheme.
"The council does not manage this scheme. The Afghan families are in transitional accommodation, not council-provided housing."
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