As winter begins, our thoughts turn to those who are homeless, as they begin the battle to keep warm during the coldest part of the year.
Each year, around 6000 people leave the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) and become ‘veterans’. Of these, around 300 every year fall into homelessness. On a typical night, around 5,800 Australian veterans, of all ages from mid-twenties upwards, find themselves without a permanent home.
Homelessness among military veterans is nearly three times as high as the general population at 5.3% compared to 1.9%.
We have a duty to these men and women who have served our nation – a duty to step in when they need it and provide the veteran-specific services they need.
Vasey RSL Care has a new and innovative response to veteran homeless – The V Centre Veteran Empowerment Program – which could be up and running within months if government funding were forthcoming.
We call on the Federal Government to support The V Centre and put the money on the table. Whether funding comes from the Housing Australia Future Fund, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Department of Social Services or all three sources does not matter to the veterans whose health is being adversely affected by their situation.
Quotes attributable to Vasey RSL Care Acting Chief Executive Officer Tamara Paton:
“Winter is the harshest time of year to be homeless: we call on the Federal Government to fund The V Centre as a practical response to veteran homelessness and ensure veterans don’t have to endure another winter outdoors.”
“The V Centre has the capacity to change lives – to bring about lasting change for veterans experiencing homelessness and its causes. It will not only change lives but save lives.”
“Veteran suicide rates are unacceptably high – on average one veteran takes their life in Australia every five days. The earlier we can get this project running, the more lives we can save.”
Key Facts:
We need to help homeless veterans now.
Military veterans are over-represented in the homless population – homelessness for veterans is around 5.3% compared to 1.9% for the general population.
A solution is approaching completion – but we need Government funding to operate it for its first three years.
About us:
Vasey RSL Care has a long and proud history of supporting veterans and war widows. Our mission is to ‘Serve Those Who Served’.
