Homelessness
and housing
support

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the state of homelessness in Australia?

  “According to the most recent studies, homelessness is at an all-time high in Australia, with around 120,000 people currently living without a home. The 2019 Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) reports that over 5,750 of these are Australian Defence Force (ADF) veterans.

  Homes for Heroes is an Ex-Services Organisation (ESO) that aims to address homelessness issues for our most vulnerable veterans. We provide support to male and female veterans who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, and through a range of services we assist them to live sustainable, fulfilling and independent lives in their chosen community.”

• Who can apply for Homes for Heroes?

  “If you are a veteran and homeless, or at risk of homelessness, then Homes for Heroes can work with you to identify options that best suit your needs in assisting you to live sustainably in your chosen community. Homes for Heroes recognises a veteran is anyone who has served, or is serving, in the ADF for at least one day. We also recognise and acknowledge the valuable contribution that veterans and their families make and have made for our country and are here to help you.

  When you are ready, please reach out to us via phone, our website, or email. If you would prefer, you can ask a friend or family member to make contact on your behalf. We will respond to you within 24 hours to start planning your transition back to independent living.”

• How does Homes for Heroes work?

  “There are 3 steps we then take:

  The experienced and caring Homes for Heroes staff will want to understand your current safety and determine what your immediate needs are. This will allow us together to make plans for meeting them as soon as possible. This may involve a number of supports including temporary and safe accommodation or access to medical support.

  As soon as possible after this initial contact, our staff will arrange for a face-to-face meeting at a suitable time and location for you to discuss and plan next steps. This will focus on both your immediate and future needs and will identity the individual goals required to achieve the outcomes you are seeking.

  Once we have discussed and agreed on your needs and goals we will explain our services, how they can best support you, and our expectations of you to work towards achieving them. We can consider options for community care and support, or accommodation in our transitional accommodation in Narrabeen, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

  Homes for Heroes takes a trauma-informed recovery-oriented approach specifically tailored to veterans and their unique needs. During your time at Homes for Heroes, you will be expected to set goals, establish routines, link in with a range of other ESO’s, veteran and community networks, and create your own health and community networks, all with an aim to ensuring you meet your individual goals.”

• Am I eligible for the Homes for Heroes Program?

  You are eligible for Homes for Heroes if you are:

  Under the age of 65 and have served at least one day in the ADF
  You must be a willing and committed participant in your journey to sustainable and independent living and be able to work on achieving your set goals
  If you have an un-managed addiction and/or untreated mental health condition and/or anyone’s personal safety is put at risk, then you are encouraged to seek immediate treatment and support for these issues and conditions. We can help you with appropriate referral pathways and be available to discuss your acceptance into our program once you are ready and able to meet the above criteria.

  Homes for Heroes work collaboratively with the broader ESO community and public health system to link you with appropriate services that will allow you to work towards achieving your own personal transition plan and help build your own personal resilience, allowing you to thrive in your chosen community.

• What is it like to stay at the Homes for Heroes transitional properties?

  If you are living in the community or have transitioned to sustainable community living from the program, we will maintain regular contact with you and continue to provide ongoing support and work through any issues, concerns or barriers you are facing. We are committed to ensuring the ongoing success of your transition back to independent, fulfilling and sustainable living. Sometimes things don’t always go to plan, but you will not be alone, we will be here to help guide and support you.

  You will work closely with our highly skilled and professional team who will support and guide you. This begins by assessing both your immediate and future needs and mapping out step by step how to achieve the outcomes you are seeking. We will ensure you are currently working with a GP and other healthcare professionals to manage any health concerns and review your DVA entitlements.

  We will help develop your own personal Transition Plan. This is where you will set your goals and work with the team to map out how you are going to achieve them. If you need support from other services or would like to work on your health and fitness, we can facilitate and support referrals and access to services that can support that. You will then meet regularly with a dedicated case manager to map progress and discuss barriers.

  When you are ready, please reach out to us via phone, our website, or email. If you would prefer, you can ask a friend or family member to make contact on your behalf. We are here to help and support you.

• What support will I receive in if I’m living in the community?

  If you are living in the community or have transitioned to sustainable community living from the program, we will maintain regular contact with you and continue to provide ongoing support and work through any issues, concerns or barriers you are facing. We are committed to ensuring the ongoing success of your transition back to independent, fulfilling and sustainable living. Sometimes things don’t always go to plan, but you will not be alone, we will be here to help guide and support you.

  You will work closely with our highly skilled and professional team who will support and guide you. This begins by assessing both your immediate and future needs and mapping out step by step how to achieve the outcomes you are seeking. We will ensure you are currently working with a GP and other healthcare professionals to manage any health concerns and review your DVA entitlements.

  We will help develop your own personal Transition Plan. This is where you will set your goals and work with the team to map out how you are going to achieve them. If you need support from other services or would like to work on your health and fitness, we can facilitate and support referrals and access to services that can support that. You will then meet regularly with a dedicated case manager to map progress and discuss barriers.

  When you are ready, please reach out to us via phone, our website, or email. If you would prefer, you can ask a friend or family member to make contact on your behalf. We are here to help and support you.

• What is Rent Choice Veterans

  RSL LifeCare Veteran Services works with the NSW Department of Community and Justice (DCJ) to assist former members of the ADF who are experiencing homelessness or may be at risk of becoming homeless.

  The program is called Rent Choice Veterans. It supports eligible veterans to:

  • get a lease or stay in your current accommodation,
  • get subsidised rent for up to three years, and
  • gain skills and work opportunities to support financial independence.

  Housing assistance can help provide eligible veterans with safety, stability and independence. It can also help reduce stress and anxiety.

  For more information, please read our Rent Choice Veterans brochure.

  To find out how we can help, please complete the enquiry form at the bottom of the page or call (02) 8088 0388.

• Can you help with rental bills or bond payments

  We can help eligible veterans by applying for assistance for rental bills or bonds through suitable sources. This can allow you to stay in your current accommodation or find somewhere suitable to live and call home.

  This can help remove immediate stress and anxiety associated with finance or looking for somewhere else to live. It can allow you to focus on other areas of your life such as work, and maintain a sense of normality and independence.

• Can you help with rental arrears repayments

  We can help eligible veterans to stay in current accommodation, enabling you to maintain a sense of normality.

  If you have children, this might enable them to stay at school and maintain friendships. It can remove stress and anxiety and allow you to refocus on other areas of your life.

• I urgently need to find a place to stay for the night. Can you help?

  Find a place to stay tonight

  If you’re a veteran and you need to find a place to stay urgently, please contact us on (02) 8088 0388 (between 9am and 5pm).

  If you need to call outside of these hours, please call Link2home on 1800 152 152 (free call 24 hours a day).

• What is homelessness?

  Homelessness is not just sleeping rough on the street. If you’re living in your car or couch surfing, that’s homelessness too. And we might be able to help.

  We can assist eligible veterans to access emergency accommodation through appropriate providers, help find a place to rent, including sourcing assistance with bond payments, and referral to other services.

  Our services can help provide immediate safety and shelter, as well as the time to find a more permanent home, regaining stability and independence.

  Some people do not wish to have a fixed address. This can be for many reasons. While we do everything to help them find shelter and security, we can also help provide tents or temporary storage to eligible veterans who are in this situation.

• I need help to move out of my parent's home. Can RSL LifeCare Veteran Services help?

  It can be hard finding a place to leave after returning from service, especially if transition has proved challenging. Many veterans return to the safety of their parents’ house but would like to move out.

  We can connect eligible veterans with services to find new accommodation and regain independence.

• I’m working with a veteran who is experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. How can I help?

  If a veteran presents at your service and they are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless, you can contact the Housing Project Officer on 0417 196 263 (Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm).

  The Housing Project Officer will be able to discuss possible housing options tailored to the individual needs of the veteran to alleviate the immediate crisis and identify their short-term and long-term goals and ongoing needs.

  Through our partnership with DCJ, the Housing Project Officer can help veterans who are able to live independently get access to subsidised private rental assistance with bonds and emergency accommodation.

  Not everyone who is homeless is ready for independent living, sometimes they may need to access treatment services for drug and alcohol or mental health issues prior to accessing housing or may need a supported living environment.

  The Housing Project Officer can assist in facilitating referrals to specialist support services.

  You can also contact Open Arms on 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372) who will connect you with support services and advise of any support payments available to the veteran.

• What if the veteran presents outside of office hours?

  DCJ provides a state-wide telephone service for homelessness enquiries in NSW called Link2home 1800 326 989 (free call). The service provides assistance to people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless by offering access to specialised support and accommodation services. The service is also for advocates acting on a person’s behalf.

  The Link2home telephone service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.

  You can also contact Open Arms on 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372) who will connect you with support services and advise of any support payments available to the veteran. The Open Arms telephone services is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.