By Katie Law BBC News

Military support groups say ex-servicemen are being left homeless because local councils do not prioritise them for housing. Now campaigners are trying to ensure they get better treatment.

Soldiers do not always find it easy when they leave the Army

Former soldiers have also told BBC Radio 5 Live that they are finding life outside the services much more difficult and expensive than they were expecting.

Simon Hodge has been a soldier since the age of 17. He saw active service in Iraq and left a month ago.

He was medically discharged and has had problems finding somewhere to live ever since.

"There is no accommodation for a family of my size. We can't be together because there is nowhere for us to live," he said.

His situation is causing him and his family a lot of misery.

"I'm pretty much an independent father that has three children which are suffering quite a lot through this. I have a wife that's suffering as well," he said.

"Thing about it is, we're actually in turmoil and close to separation because of what's happened to me.

"To be honest, I could say I'm in near enough up to �40,000 worth of debt to keep myself going."

'On the lurch'

Another soldier affected is former corporal Joseph Maguire.

He says that when he left the Army he applied for council housing with Croydon Council but was told he was not a priority case and the waiting list was very long.

He did not manage his money well when he was initially discharged, so cannot afford either rent or a mortgage.

"When I first left the forces I got myself into debt, so I couldn't rent because of my credit rating," he said.

His family had moved away so at first he stayed with friends.

"For a good six months I was travelling around friends' houses just trying to find somewhere to stay. Floor, sofa, anything, you name it," he said.

"I actually classed myself as homeless when I was doing all that because I always felt as though I was intruding.

"I always felt as if, 'I mean, I am homeless, this is it - any time I tick these guys off I'm out of here, I've got nowhere to go.'"

Mr Maguire is now staying with his mother.

"I had to move out of London to the south coast to my mum again, but she's going to be moving again within the next six months," he said.

"That means I'm going to be out on the lurch again."

'Postcode lottery'

Athol Hendry, from the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association, said that former servicemen with young families were particularly at risk, but that the problem was more widespread than that.

"Servicemen and women who are coming out of very intense periods of service with the armed forces are struggling to find housing and accommodation once they leave the services," he said.

He added that where you live can make a difference to whether or not you get housing.

"This is another issue where there is really a postcode lottery, and if you're in the wrong region then it can cause problems.

"I think what we would aspire to see is a service where all former servicemen and women are given an equal chance of getting housing."