One of the RSL's key advocacy priorities for 2025 is "Reducing Veteran Homelessness with early intervention and targeted veteran housing programs".

Each year, some 6,000 veterans are at risk of homelessness and on census night in 2021, approximately 1,500 Australian veterans were listed as being homeless. The Give Me Shelter report (2023) estimates that veterans are nearly 3 times as likely to experience homelessness compared to the general population. These men and women have served Australia with dedication and sacrifice and deserve to be comfortably housed.

Across Australia, the League is working to reduce veteran homelessness by providing practical support, working with frontline providers, improving access for veterans to emergency accommodation, long-term housing, and providing or referring to wraparound services such as mental health support, financial counselling, and employment assistance. RSL policy teams network with the state and federal governments to ensure veterans’ housing needs are reflected in public policy and funding decisions.

Our network of 1,095 RSL Sub-branches play a key role in early intervention, helping to identify veterans at risk, offering direct support, and connecting them with essential services, ensuring timely and compassionate assistance.

RSL Australia participates in relevant forums designed to share information and develop policy positions to reduce veteran homelessness.

Give me shelter report - May 2023

Veterans' Acute Housing Program

In 2024, the RSL welcomed the Government’s Veterans’ Acute Housing Program, which provides up to $30 million in targeted funding for projects that provide additional crisis and transitional housing stock and fund specialist services for those in the veteran community who are experiencing, or are at risk of, homelessness.

A total of 13 grants were awarded to 10 Ex-Service Organisations and veteran-aware Community Housing Providers to tackle veteran homelessness. Of these, RSL recipients include:

RSL Care SA (South Australia) - Andrew Russell Veteran Living (ARVL) Wallaroo / ARVL Pathways Program for older homeless veterans

Vasey RSL Care (Victoria) - Geelong Transitional Accommodation Project / Veteran Housing and Supports Coordinators

RSL Tasmania (Tasmania) - Veteran Housing Program Tasmania

RSL Queensland (QLD and Northern Territory) – Housing support for veterans exiting institutions

RSL Lifecare (NSW and ACT) – Enhancing Homes for Heroes

National Homelessness Week

4 - 10 August 2025

Homelessness Australia hosts Homelessness Week annually to build community support and government commitment to end homelessness. RSL supports this initiative to raise awareness and spotlight veteran homelessness.

Learn more

Help is available

If you or someone you know is a veteran experiencing or at risk of homelessness, help is available:

Nationwide

Open Arms - Crisis Accommodation
Wounded Heroes - Crisis Support

Northern Territory

NT Shelter

Queensland

RSL Queensland

Queensland Government – Homeless Hotline

NSW

RSL LifeCare Veteran Services – Veteran Homelessness and Housing Support

NSW Government – Link2Home – Emergency accommodation and housing

Australian Capital Territory

OneLink

Victoria

RSL Victoria - RSL Victoria’s Veteran Services Team can help secure temporary accommodation and provide support and connection.
Vasey RSL Care – Veteran Housing and Services

Housing Vic

South Australia

RSL Care SA

Andrew Russell Veteran Living

Homeless Connect SA

Tasmania

RSL Tasmania - VeteranHub is a free service available throughout Tasmania for Veterans and their families, delivered by RSL Tasmania and with funding from the Department of Veterans' Affairs. If you, or someone you know, needs support, contact 03 6154 0000, connect@VeteranHub.org.au, or via veteranhub.org.au. Once connected, VeteranHub Navigators can provide relevant information and assist with wellbeing, housing, employment and compensation claims.

Homes Tasmania

Western Australia

RSL WA - RSL WA provide support with emergency financial assistance for rental and home repayments, referrals to housing providers the VTC, Sir Valston Hancock House, and other locations. RSL WA also offers support with compensation claims for veterans with service-related injuries and conditions.