AN organisation supporting Australia's veterans and their families has secured emergency crisis accommodation at Cessnock.
Taskforce Veteran will provide two houses on the Calvary Cessnock Residential Aged Care site, each serving different functions to support the wellbeing of the veteran community.
The first house will provide free short-term crisis accommodation for a wide range of veterans. It will also provide a full range of amenities, including laundry facilities, communal entertainment spaces, basic food staples, some meals, and access to 24/7 support from Taskforce Veteran staff.
"The aim of this accommodation is to support veterans who have recently transitioned from the Australian Defence Force, or those who might be living in their cars or couch surfing while they look for employment," chairman and founder Brett Wild said.
"By providing free, short-term accommodation and directly connecting them with community services, we hope to help veterans to get back on their feet during an extremely difficult time in their lives."
Homelessness is a significant problem in the veteran community, with data indicating 5800 veterans experience homelessness each year.
Taskforce Veteran staff have seen first-hand the severity of this problem while working on the organisation's Scheyville project, where they discovered that several veterans were sleeping rough in Scheyville National Park.
Unemployment challenges in the veteran community further compound the issue of homelessness. Data from the Veterans' Employment Program shows that a third of veterans are unemployed while 19 per cent are not working in jobs that match their skills and qualifications.
According to figures released by the organisation, there were more than 10,000 veterans living in the Greater Hunter region as of June 28.
With the first Cessnock house addressing the urgent need for crisis accommodation, Taskforce Veteran will use the second house to connect veterans with community support.
Mr Wild said there was also an urgent need for this type of accommodation in the Hunter Valley.
Taskforce Veteran plans to partner with education providers, employment agencies, health and wellness services, and local veteran groups, while also offering communal areas for veterans and their families to relax, reflect, and connect with the community.
Calvary Regional CEO for Northern NSW and Queensland Luke Sams said supporting Taskforce Veteran aligned with Calvary's mission of "being for others".
"We are committed to compassion for the most vulnerable, and we hope our support through these two houses inspires other organisations to consider ways to assist such a worthy program," Mr Sams said.
Founded in 2018, Taskforce Veteran is committed to raising awareness of veterans' contributions, supporting their wellbeing, preserving military history, and modernising the sector to meet the evolving needs of the veteran community.
