A SOLDIER injured in the line of duty could be left homeless after being medically discharged from the Army.

Pte Chris Down, who grew up in Basildon, says more should be done to help wounded servicemen like him – who risk their lives for their country – then find themselves homeless and jobless.

He, his wife and their two children will lose their Army-owned home in Surrey in August. They want to return to Basildon, where their families live.

But Pte Down, 25, says Basildon Council told him they will have to stay in a hostel or go on benefits and rent privately, until a council house is found.

Basildon Council told the Echo it will give priority housing to wounded soldiers, but Pte Down says he has never been told this.

Pte Down’s wife, Natalie, 22, said: “I’m absolutely disgusted.

“Earlier this month, Basildon Council granted the Royal Anglian Regiment the key to the borough, but they can’t give a Royal Anglian soldier a key to a house.”

Private Down was left partially-deaf after returning from a six-month tour of Iraq in 2006, where constant explosions severely damaged his hearing.

He was deemed no longer fit for frontline service and redeployed to work in intelligence and fixing tanks.

In February, he fell victim to Government spending cuts and was medically discharged after failing a hearing test – following seven years of service for the Royal Anglian Regiment.

Pte Down said: “I understand why I had to go.

“Because I’m limited by my hearing, other soldiers can offer more than I can.”

He, his wife and their children, Grace, four, and Jamie, one, have lived in Pirbright, Surrey, for almost 18 months, but plan to return to Basildon where Grace has a primary school place starting in September.

The Downs contacted Basildon Council to apply for a council house ahead of their eviction in August, when Pte Down’s six months of paid leave ends.

They claim the council told them nothing could be done until 28 days before they become homeless, because they still have a house and they could end up in a hostel in Barking or Southend.

Pte Down, who hopes to work as a petrol tank driver once his leave ends, said: “I could understand having to wait if I’d left the Army by my own choice, but this has been out of my hands.

“My family needs stability. Rented accommodation or a hostel doesn’t provide that.

“David Cameron has assured us troops will jump to the front of the housing queue as a reward for their bravery, but this isn’t happening.”

Council is waiting for completed application

BASILDON Council said it was waiting for Chris Down to undergo an assessment, to confirm whether he was eligible for priority housing.

Kathy Ayres, the council’s re-housing manager, said: “Basildon Council has had a policy in place for a number of years, where additional social priority may be awarded to a member of the Armed Forces being discharged, due to retirement or ill health where their accommodation will come to an end.

“On several occasions, Pte Down has been advised to submit an application for the housing register, so an assessment can be undertaken. The criteria regarding eligibility, local connection and housing need has to be satisfied before consideration can be given to awarding the social priority award.”

The Downs deny receiving a housing application form and say they have contacted the council on several occasions.

They claimed they had never been informed Pte Down could have priority as a medically discharged soldier.

They also deny receiving a telephone call from the council last week to discuss their situation.