Veteran Homelessness Support
Tackling Veteran Homelessness Through Action and Advocacy
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 1,555 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.
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.
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
RSL South Australia & Northern Territory
Reach Out Service guidance, support, and action in a one-stop shop approach.
Advocacy assistance with DVA claims and entitlements. Guidance to state-based services, transport, accommodation, Companion Card.
After Hours Care - links to other agencies and resources.
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
Victoria
Vasey RSL Care – Veteran Housing and Services
South Australia
RSL South Australia & Northern Territory
Reach Out Service guidance, support, and action in a one-stop shop approach.
Advocacy assistance with DVA claims and entitlements. Guidance to state-based services, transport, accommodation, Companion Card.
After Hours Care - links to other agencies and resources.
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, you can contact us and our VeteranHub Navigators can provide relevant information and assist with wellbeing, housing, employment and compensation claims.
Western Australia
Support with emergency financial assistance for rental and home repayments.
Referrals to housing providers, the VTC, Sir Valston Hancock House, and other locations.
Support with compensation claims for veterans with service-related injuries and conditions.
RAAFA – Andrew Russell Veteran Living
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