Each year, around 6,000 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%.
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,” the organisation said.
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.”
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After seeing Angus Campbell in the now infamous Senate responses I get the feeling that the equally infamous words “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche” (Let them eat Cake) in the 18 cent. might apply to our neglected veterans? God I hope not!