‘What about now?’ Homeless veteran living in caravan calls for urgent change

An army veteran who has been homeless for the past year says he feels “hopeless” about his future. His story >>

WHEN he thinks about his future, Michael simply feels hopeless.

The army reservist veteran – who spent 11 years in the force before he was discharged with injuries – has been homeless for 12 months, living in his caravan.

Michael is unable to get surgery for his knee and back, which were injured during his army career, because he doesn’t have a home with level access to recover in.

He stays warm at night – with the mercury dropping to 4 degrees this week – with the aid of “a heater and my doggy”, while he suffers chronic, ongoing pain from the injuries he can’t get addressed.

The issues faced by the 54-year-old have tragically become commonplace in Hobart – and will be touched upon next week by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, which is holding a week-and-a-half of public hearings in Hobart.

The royal commission is looking to uncover risk factors for suicidality among veterans in Tasmania – with homelessness a key concern.

For now, Michael says he can’t see his situation improving.

“Hopeless, hopeless,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter about me speaking to the commission or whatever, it will be years away (before things change). What about now? I need to know what’s happening now.”

Michael is a veteran who now lives in a caravan. Picture: Linda Higginson

Michael’s story, highlighted as National Homeless Week kicks off on August 1, is one of many the Salvation Army deals with every day.

Michael described the organisation, which has a veteran’s program, as “really good people” as well as life savers.

“Without them, I probably wouldn’t be here,” he said.

Don McCrae, Salvation Army housing, homelessness and corrections manager, said many Tasmanians were struggling with housing – noting how difficult it was to get elective surgery without a home.

He said hospitals wouldn’t discharge a surgery patient into homelessness because of the risk of post-operative infection, or due to the lack of a support person during the recovery period.

That meant many Tasmanians were not getting surgery for chronic conditions causing unrelenting pain.

Don McCrae, homelessness and corrections manager at the Salvation Army. Picture: Linda Higginson

It is estimated that 5.6 of Australia’s homeless are veterans, with Mr McCrae noting Tasmanians were living in cars, sleeping on benches, or sleeping in tents and swags.

He said one person was living in a public toilet in Sandy Bay, keeping “all his worldly belongings” in there.

Nick Kaldas, chair of the royal commission, said it was understood many veterans gravitated towards Tasmania – “because of the environment, which they love, and to get away from the mainland”.

Nick Kaldas, Chair of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Picture: Linda Higginson

He encouraged anyone experiencing issues to come forward.

We will strictly observe the confidentiality requests from people,” Commissioner Kaldas said.

“We won’t know and we won’t have the full picture unless people contact us and let us know what they’ve been through.”

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Originally published as ‘What about now?’ Homeless veteran living in caravan calls for urgent change