Vasey RSL Care set to launch Veteran Empowerment Program in 2024

Key points:

• Approximately 6,000 returned service men and women experience homelessness across Australia each year

• On average, around 300 veterans experience homelessness annually — a rate nearly three times higher than the general population
• Veterans experiencing homelessness may find it harder to reach out for support, which can compound their trauma and make things even worse, especially with regard to their mental well-being

Vasey RSL Care, one of Australia’s leading ex-service accommodation providers, has secured $1.2 million dollars in funding for its innovative accommodation project, ‘The V Centre Veteran Empowerment Program,’ under the Albanese Labor Government’s Veteran Well-being Grant [One Off] Program.  

The V Centre Veteran Empowerment Program will support veterans who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The program, being the first of its kind in Australia, provides a secure and safe place to reside, complemented by wraparound support services. Vasey RSL Care representatives believe that is a pioneering initiative that has the potential to not only bring about a transformative change but also fortify the lives of those who have served the country.

The provision of secure accommodation and support services is set to have a significant impact in safeguarding and nurturing the half a million current and former service personnel who are nearly three times more likely to experience homelessness.

The latest release of the Rental Affordability Index shows the Australian rental crisis is getting worse by the month, spreading from capital cities to regional areas. The report notes that many vulnerable Australians are paying up to 75 percent of their income towards accommodation costs and are at risk of experiencing homelessness.

Greater Sydney and Greater Perth are the most unaffordable capital cities for Australians, with 2023 RAI scores of 22 and 24, respectively, categorised as ‘extremely unaffordable.’ 

In the 2023 Demographia Housing Market Affordability Index, statistics revealed that accommodation in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide was less affordable than the New York housing market, relative to household income.

Vasey RSL Care Chief Executive Officer Janna Voloshin said that The V Centre Veteran Empowerment Program would help to address the “pressing need” for housing, amidst the ongoing crisis.

“This is not just a program; it’s a lifeline for veterans [who are] in need. With this funding, opening the centre is now a reality. Early in the new year, homeless veterans in Victoria will have somewhere to go to find the help they need,” Ms Voloshin said. 

“We are sincerely appreciative of the Federal Government’s support; this is more than an injection of funding, it is an important recognition of the sacrifices our veterans have made,” Vasey RSL Care Board Chair Mike O’Meara OAM said.

“There is still more work to do, but this funding is a great start and evidence of the Federal Government’s confidence in the work we do”, Mr O’Meara added.

The building refurbishment component of The V Centre is currently in the final stages of completion and The V Centre is expected to be open early in the new year.

For more information, please visit the Vasey RSL Care website. If you or someone in your community is experiencing or at risk of homelessness, please refer to the resources available through Homelessness Australia.

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