Vasey RSL Care has spent close to two years advocating at the highest levels of government to co-fund its innovative response to veteran homelessness – and its causes – through The V Centre Veteran Empowerment Program.
In the ex-service community, one veteran takes their own life every 5 days. This is simply not acceptable, and if The V Centre can save even one life, it is investment well spent.
Early federal government encouragement to submit a budget proposal to fund The V Centre resulted in nothing. A second budget proposal also falling on deaf ears. Subsequently, the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) was proposed as the funding solution. On 11 September last year, Minister for Veterans Affairs, The Hon Matt Keogh MP stated in Parliament that Vasey RSL Care, "also want to be able to come forward and apply for funds from government, but we can't enable that right now, because the Housing Australia Future Fund is being blocked by the coalition and the Greens".
Kate Thwaites MP, Local Federal Member for Jagajaga in Parliament on 12 September last year "(The HAFF) will also mean more homes for veterans at risk of homelessness and for services like Vasey RSL Care, which is doing brilliant work at the V Centre just next to Heidelberg Repat supporting veterans and their families but which could do even more with the right support from this fund".
Vasey RSL Care supported the Government in its efforts to pass the legislation by engaging with the opposition and cross bench. However, once passed, The V Centre was told it is no longer eligible for funding as it has already begun operation.
"We cannot sit around waiting for funding," says Janna Voloshin, Chief Executive Officer at Vasey RSL Care. "We went ahead and opened The V Centre 'on a shoestring' in February this year because veterans who are at their breaking point are not in a position to wait."
"Enough is enough," says Janna. "Last month, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide handed down its final report and recommendations. We are fully supportive of the recommendations: in particular, Recommendation 88a – 'improving outcomes for veterans who are experiencing homelessness, including a long-term investment framework that supports capital and operational expenditure for veteran-specific housing and the provision of wraparound services'. We are here – we are doing this – we are saving lives. But we can't go on doing it without government support."
Six months into The V Centre's operation, its effectiveness is evident: program participants speak to the transformative impact of their time at The V Centre with many noting that it has saved their lives. See some of their stories in this moving 4-minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb98yvT7Sao
"We are not here to play politics; we are here to ensure that the government demonstrates genuine commitment to our veterans—who are the backbone of this nation", says Ms Voloshin.
"Imagine losing a mate every five days: I find it shocking that the Government won't support this initiative," says Chris Gray, Vasey RSL Care General Manager Veteran Services.
About us:
BACKGROUND:
The V Centre Veteran Empowerment program is located in Ivanhoe, Victoria and was opened in February 2024. This industry-first purpose-designed Program combines a safe place to live with tailored support services for veterans struggling to live a civilian life, homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The V Centre has been designed to offer 16 apartments and 3 studios, with each apartment including private living, sleeping and study spaces, a kitchenette and an ensuite. Separate communal kitchens, laundries, living areas, quiet spaces and outdoor spaces are distributed throughout the Centre.
The Centre includes a support hub with consultation rooms, IT suite, art therapy room, library, gym, recreation rooms and multi-purpose spaces, with outdoor facilities including gardens and recreational spaces.
The V Centre is the home of the V Centre Veteran Empowerment Program, an individually tailored program designed to support veterans and empower them with the skills and connections required to achieve and maintain a new way of life in stable accommodation.
The benefits to Government of this Program are forecast at over $18 million in savings over the first three years with exponentially growing ongoing savings in each subsequent year.
Vasey RSL Care has invested over $12 million establishing the V Centre property and Program and have asked the Federal Government for a co-contribution of $11.48 Million over 3 years.
As reported by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans Suicide, Australian veterans are almost three times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population and Australian veterans are over twice as likely to die by suicide than the general population.
Veterans are also more likely to have other homelessness risk indicators including being single, unemployed, subject to financial strain, and experiencing a greater number of traumatic life events than the broader population.
