Veterans rally for a cause at inaugural Townsville RSL Veteran Homlessness Sleepout

Veteran Garth Murray and his loyal assistance dog, Max, were among those who spent a night on the streets in Townsville to raise awareness about the growing crisis of homeless veterans.

Townsville RSL Veteran Homlessness Sleepout at the Thuringowa RSL. Veteran Garth Murray with his Assistance Dog Max were part of the sleepout to raise funds for other Veterans who are homeless. Picture: Evan Morgan

Veterans and their families and community organisations banded together for the inaugural Townsville RSL Adventures Veteran Homelessness Sleepout held at the Thuringowa RSL over the weekend.

Garth Murray, with his assistant dog Max, who helps him cope with anxiety and lead a fuller life, was one veteran who slept out to support the cause.

“It’s a good cause for Veteran homelessness, so I’m here to support that,” he said.

“Max and I have volunteered on behalf of the RSL for the last four years, visiting veterans and veteran’s widows in hospitals, and this is just another way to give back and hopefully help out the homeless veterans.”

Townsville RSL Veteran services co-ordinator Adam West said the event was a huge success and helped to meld a network of community support organisations to provide a helping hand for veterans in need.

“One of the biggest things that I noticed was the amount of organisations who were tangled up in supporting homeless people, and also, in particular, homeless veterans,” he said.

“It was great to see them all sort of sitting there and talking because everyone’s got their own rules and regulations, what they can and can’t do, and we were able to work out who was best positioned to be able to provide the best effect for our veterans.”

He said moving forward, this network would prove vital in supporting veterans.

“When we have a veteran who’s presented (to the RSL), we immediately know who that person is that we need to contact,” he said.

Veteran Garth Murray with his Assistance Dog Max were part of the sleepout to raise funds for other Veterans who are homeless. Picture: Evan Morgan

“We get in contact with them, and we find out the support. But also on the side, we can then sit there and say, hey, we can get these other groups who can come out and meet with you now and prevent present hygiene packs, or emergency accommodation, or whatever it is that we can help them.”

Program manager of the Veteran Support Team of the Salvation Army Jonathan Dyer was also there at the sleepover and said the RSL Queensland’s veteran homelessness program was vital.

“Here at the Salvation Army, we partner with RSL Queensland to provide support to veterans and their families across the state who experience homelessness or at risk of,” he said.

He said the issue of homeless veterans was more prevalent in Townsville than elsewhere.

“Townsville has, per capita, the biggest veteran population anywhere in Australia, being a garrison city, and with another 500 odd serving members and their families on their way here – housing is a big issue for veterans and their families.

“We know from statistics that veterans are over-represented in the homelessness population.

“We see with 12-month homelessness statistics that veterans are about 5.3 per cent whereas the general population is more like around two per cent.

“Just that statistic alone tells you that for veterans and their families, that the support that our partnership provides is so important to get them into long, long term, safe, stable, secure housing.”

“Homelessness is a housing problem, and therefore simply, when it really comes down to it, we just need more housing for veterans and their families, and that will end veteran homelessness.”

Originally published as Veterans rally for a cause at inaugural Townsville RSL Veteran Homlessness Sleepout