Changing Lives: RSL LifeCare expands Homes for Heroes program to tackle Veteran homelessness

As Homelessness Week (4-10 August 2025) casts a national spotlight on those without safe, secure housing, RSL LifeCare is taking bold steps to ensure veterans are not left behind.

Building on more than a decade of leadership and investment in veteran housing, RSL LifeCare is expanding its Homes for Heroes program with new, trauma-informed initiatives, co-designed with veterans and guided by experts in homelessness. A recent $1.5 million boost from the Australian Government’s Veteran Acute Housing Program Grant is helping accelerate this next phase, delivering deeper impact where it’s needed most.

“This is not just an evolution, it’s a purposeful investment in doing better. We’re building a program grounded in evidence, shaped by the lived experience of veterans, and informed by leading research and models like the Foyer approach. By combining veteran co-design with expert insight into what truly works, we’re creating a more connected, credible and compassionate model of care that reflects our unwavering commitment to those who’ve served.” – RSL LifeCare CEO Janet Muir.

According to the 2023 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report, Veterans in the Specialist Homelessness Services System, nearly 6,000 Australian veterans (around 5.3% of 500,000 service members) experienced homelessness within a 12-month period, and yet only 1.1% of veterans accessed homelessness support services compared to 3.4% of the broader community.

Veteran homelessness is not just a policy failure; it’s a human one. Those who’ve served our country deserve far better. Without effective intervention, the personal toll is immense, with veterans facing significantly higher rates of mental ill-health and suicide, female veterans at 107% higher risk and males nearly 30% higher than their civilian peers. The long-term societal cost is projected to exceed $4.6 billion over the next 30 years, but the true cost is measured in lives lost and potential unfulfilled.

With veterans being over three times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population, RSL LifeCare is responding with empathy, innovation, and learning from lived experience.

Veterans Share Their Stories: “This Program Changed My Life”

For Army veteran Nathan, who was deployed in Afghanistan, Homes for Heroes has provided more than shelter, it’s offered a path forward. “My experience of the program has been very empowering, life-changing,” Nathan said. “It’s okay to reach out for help, and this program will change your life for good.”

Daryn shared a similar experience of transformation: “Homes for Heroes gave me more than just safety and security, it gave me the confidence to restart my life again,” he said. “They moved heaven and earth for me. The support I’ve received from everyone at RSL LifeCare, I never imagined help like this existed.”

Jason, also an Army veteran, described his journey from instability to hope: “I had lost my way. Just having a stable and safe place to live and being supported by RSL LifeCare team members and peer support workers, has been the most beneficial thing for my health and my life,” Jason said. “Homes for Heroes gave me the chance to put my feet on the ground and feel safe.”

Colin added that the structure and care within the Homes for Heroes program have been key to his recovery. “This program works. Homes for Heroes gave me the best support I could’ve ever received,” Colin said. “Just being able to sleep soundly at night knowing I’m safe and supported, that’s a priceless feeling.”

Program Enhancements Driving Change

Key milestones in the Home for Heroes program rollout include:

• First Specialist Case Manager appointed, with recruitment underway for more roles including a Wellbeing Officer to support veterans in strengthening community ties and social connection.
• Three veteran-led co-design workshops, offering vital insight into how housing and wellbeing services can be more effective, respectful, and empowering.
• Client platform upgrade underway, to enable real-time tracking of veteran progress and more responsive, tailored service delivery.
• Creation of a peer support workforce, a national first in veteran housing. A Lived Experience Committee is leading development, with recruitment of the first peer workers scheduled for later this year.

The Homes for Heroes program has long been a lifeline for veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Now, with new capability and deeper community involvement, RSL LifeCare is aiming to set a new benchmark in veteran support.

“We know veteran homelessness is complex, but it is also preventable. With the right people, partnerships, and purpose, we can break the cycle and create lasting change.” – RSL LifeCare CEO Janet Muir.

RSL LifeCare delivers free services, such as Housing Support, Financial Assistance, Wellbeing Support, Employment Assistance, DVA Claims and Advocacy to veterans and their families across NSW and the ACT. Many veterans have been assisted by RSL NSW Sub-Branches to help them gain access to these life changing services.

For information on Homes for Heroes, and RSL LifeCare’s Homelessness and Housing support, visit here.

MEDIA | Nicole Hogan | 0467 733 296