A place to live is a human right

Veterans are nearly three times as likely to be homeless as the general population. Everyone should have a safe home - especially these men and women who have served our country.

$30 a month goes towards sponsoring a room for a veteran such as Brad

"If it wasn’t for the V Centre I would be on the street and not allowed to see my son" - Brad

"I contacted Bree at the V Centre and within a couple of days I was on a bus to the V Centre in Ivanhoe. I was really nervous: l felt like l was running away from my son,” Brad tells us. He never imagined this would be his life – huddled in a doona on the main street of a country town, holding his bag and only belongings, hungry and alone. Brad slept rough for more than 3 months. Medically discharged with nowhere to go, carrying injury, isolation, loneliness and loss of belonging to community and family. Each night he spent homeless was a stark reminder of everything he’d lost.

You can help a veteran like Brad by supporting the Veteran Empowerment Program – a unique program combining a safe place to live and the support needed to get back on their feet, to live a life they choose. Your gift will help us make a real difference in their lives – starting with a safe place to sleep this year. Please become a regular supporter today. You could be the reason a veteran gets back on their feet. $1 per day helps put a roof over the head of veterans like Brad.

Your donation today helps ensure we are there 24/7

Help a veteran who is homeless or at risk of homelessness

Brad came to the V Centre in spring 2024, with one bag, wearing thongs, the clothes on his back and just $10 in his pocket. Brad wanted to play football for Essendon or cricket for Australia. He was a fun-loving, fit young man with so much ahead of him. He was drawn into the Defence Force from a luring promotional video. He admits now, he was a naive 19-year-old.

For someone like Brad, it’s hard to open up and talk about the mental struggle: when you’re trained to be strong and self-reliant, admitting you’re not coping feels shameful. You struggle to just survive, one day at a time. And when a veteran like Brad finally finds the strength to ask for help – we must be there for them.

Veterans sitting outside the V Centre

Regular Giving - Join the Sponsor A Room Program today

As a Sponsor A Room Supporter, your monthly gift of $30 or more will help veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to have a roof over their heads and the wraparound support they need.

Your tax-deductible gift is a hand up to veterans so they can begin to overcome the challenges and live a life they choose.

We will keep you up to date on what’s happening with the veterans living at the V Centre – and we’ll invite you to a virtual tour of the centre.

It cost more than $78,000 to sponsor a room for a veteran for a year at the V Centre. But with your help, we can provide the life-changing skills, training, support and a roof over their heads to graduate from the V Centre Veteran Empowerment Program.

 

Your monthly donation goes towards providing a room for a veteran

Your regular donations play a vital role in supporting our Sponsor-A-Room Program, which includes:

  • Transitional accommodation: the V Centre provides safe and secure veteran-specific accommodation for the duration of the program
  • Individually Tailored Support Program: every participant will have different needs. Our staff help participants develop personal goals
  • Connection and engagement: the Program supports participants to build or rebuild relationships and networks, to ensure they have ongoing support and encouragement
  • Improved health and wellbeing: the Program helps build a healthy routine including physical activity, good nutrition, mental health care and social interaction
  • Expanding life skills: from cooking to computer skills, job hunting, employment opportunities, getting work experience, skills-building is tailored to the needs of the veteran
  • Family support: many of the participants have partners or children – maintaining these relationships is a vital part of the program

The V Centre is a dry zone and veterans must demonstrate a commitment to positive personal change to be accepted into the program.

Sponsor a room today, it could be life-saving!

Veteran homelessness rates are alarmingly high—5.3%, which is almost three times the rate of the general population.

Right now, veteran homelessness is increasing due to the rental affordability crisis.

It can be hard to reach out for support – but when someone does, it’s essential that the right support is available. A safe place to live is critical to mental health and preventing veteran suicide. With your monthly gift today, you can help us be there 24/7 for a veteran facing a mental health challenge and homelessness.

Find the answers to common questions about Sponsor a room

Can l get a receipt for tax purposes?

Sponsor a room Supporters will receive an annual tax receipt in July each year, which will include a summary of all donations from the previous financial year.

How much does it cost to Sponsor a room?

You can become a Sponsor a room Supporter for as little as $1 a day, or $30 a month. It all makes a difference.

How do l update my contact and payment details?

If you are a current Sponsor a room Supporter and would like to update your details, please email our friendly fundraising team – donations@vaseyrslcare.org.au.

Where will my money go?

As a Sponsor a room supporter, your contribution will have an immediate impact, as you help veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness have an immediate roof over their heads at the V Centre. Your ongoing monthly donations will support our Veteran Empowerment Program and provide wrap around services to veterans – which could be life saving!

 

 

What if l need to cancel my regular gift?

We understand that your circumstances may change. If you would like to suspend your regular monthly donation for a period of time or adjust the amount you donate, please email our friendly fundraising team – donations@vaseyrslcare.org.au. You can also cancel your regular donation at any time, and our team will be happy to help in any way we can.

How does donating on a monthly basis have a bigger impact?

Your monthly commitment to Sponsor a room:

  • Helps the V Centre plan ahead and invest in long term solutions
  • Provides steady and ongoing support to veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
  • Ensures we are ready to support the newest wave of veterans in their time of need