A new coastal housing facility for homeless veterans will be named the Ben Roberts-Smith Beach Houses.
The first residents have already been welcomed to the housing in the Perth suburb of Scarborough, which can accommodate at least 20 veterans.
The facility was refurbished and opened as part of mining magnate Gina Rinehart’s $200 million ($US138 million) pledge to tackle homelessness amongst Australian veterans.
Solider On Australia named Rinehart as an “Honorary Guardian of Australian veterans,” as she plans to provide more than 6,000 homes to homeless veterans.
An estimated 6,000 service or former service people are believed to currently be experiencing homelessness in Australia.
Roberts-Smith, who is currently on bail after being charged with five counts of war crime murder during his tours of Afghanistan, was born in Perth.
The Victoria Cross recipient has rejected all allegations made against him.
Roberts-Smith’s parents Len Roberts-Smith and Sue Roberts-Smith were present at the opening of the Perth facility, saying it made them proud to see their son’s name on the building.
“Our son has been through so much, and our family knows deeply that the challenges faced by veterans and their loved ones do not end when their service does. In many ways, it just begins,” they said in a statement.
“For many veterans, the hardest battles come long after they return home, and projects like this show them they have not been forgotten.”
Veteran Housing Australia CEO Rob Miller said the homes being provided to homeless veterans were a first step towards helping them rebuild their lives.
“This is not just about bricks and mortar,” he said.
“It is about giving veterans stability, dignity and the chance to get back on their feet with the right support around them.”
Rinehart said accommodation was one of the biggest needs for veterans.
“I hope this accommodation, even more desperately needed as we move into the winter months, will bring some comfort to our struggling veterans, who after sacrificing so much for us are owed a great debt by this nation,” she said.
Risk Factors for Veterans
A study (pdf) published by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute found that veteran homelessness was more commonly associated with shorter periods of service as transition assistance is often tied to length of service, leaving those who served shorter terms with less support on their return.“Risk factors such as deployment, PTSD and medical discharge elevate a veteran’s chance of becoming homeless,” the study noted.
“Moreover, it is clear that the first 12 months after transition is a high-risk period for veterans—a time when they are more likely to experience homelessness.”
In addition, the study said veterans, especially men, were more reluctant than the average person to access support services, particularly in the mainstream.
“Relationship break-ups, unemployment and mental illness figure prominently in veterans’ stories of their path to homelessness,” it said.
“For many interview participants, this pathway did not lead to support services until a crisis had occurred, such as hospitalisation.”
