Homelessness in Australia and around the world is a growing problem

It is no different for veterans, in fact it’s worse. Nine years ago, I could get emergency accommodation or public housing for homeless veterans, now it’s impossible.

For most of The Last Post’s readers it will come as no surprise that Aussie veterans are at higher risk of homelessness than most of us, and they are much more likely to be homeless for longer.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, and this number is projected to rise. Over 300 who leave the service every year experience homelessness.

A mate of mine lives in a little house outside of Sydney, the original structure, just four walls and an outside dunny, was built for a returning veteran from the bloodsoaked fields of the Somme.

Many diggers got this Government help after WW1 and WW2; they got a roof, some land, but then, there was little understanding of the mental health impacts of war service. That wouldn’t start to happen until after the Vietnam.

Studies show that Veterans have a higher incidence of long-term health conditions compared with those who had never served. This includes higher rates of arthritis, back problems, diabetes, heart attacks and stroke.

Worse, over a quarter of veterans who have ever served, have mental or behavioural conditions, according to the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare, veterans also have increased risk factors for dementia.

While understanding of the mental impacts of war service has increased, governments, both state and federal, have dropped the ball on housing and the support services needed to transition soldiers and their families to civilian life.

As soon as soldiers know they’re being discharged, Defence gives these serving families just two weeks to leave their housing. Surely Defence could cut them a little more slack and give them more time to find a rental in their price range?

On the 13th of February the Albanese Govt announced an initiative for housing providers called Working with Veterans: A toolkit for Community Housing Organisations. This is an initiative to help community housing providers take into consideration ‘the unique life experience and challenges that veterans face’, sounds good on paper but how many roofs will this actually put over their heads?

On the 3rd of April I was honoured to be at the opening of a Veteran Hub in Launceston. This Hub, the first of its kind in Tasmania, will provide vital services and support to veterans and their families, this will include advice on housing and connection to housing providers.

We need more hubs like this, and we need more dedicated housing for veterans and their families. There are old defence facilities that could potentially be turned into emergency housing. We need multiple fixes for this issue, those who have served deserve a roof over their head, it’s not all we should do but it’s absolutely the least we can do.

Lest we forget.

JACQUI LAMBIE Senator for Tasmania