Six new homes for veterans experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity will be built at Chigwell after the Tasmanian government partnered with RSL Tasmania and the federal government on the project.
Lyden Builders has been contracted to develop the two-bedroom units on land provided through Homes Tasmania, with funding also coming from the federal government’s Veterans Acute Housing Program.
The development application was lodged with Glenorchy City Council last week.
Housing and Planning Minister Kerry Vincent said the homes were a key part of the government’s housing commitments.
“Our veterans have served our country, preserved our freedoms and it is important that we provide them with the housing support they deserve,” he said.
Veterans Affairs Minister Gavin Pearce said the homes would “change lives.”
“A stable roof delivered by the RSL, in partnership with the Tasmanian and Australian Governments shows just how seriously we all take this,” Pearce said.
“We have approximately 17,500 veterans in Tasmania and supporting as many of them as we can into stable accommodation is a win for the entire community.”
The announcement came on Vietnam Veterans Day, marking the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan.
RSL Tasmania chief John Hardy said the organisation was aware of around 68 veterans or family members considered homeless in the state, ranging from people sleeping in cars to those living rough.
Veterans are around three times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population, he said.
“If someone’s got a place to live, they’ve got an address, if they’ve got an address, they’ve got a job,” Hardy said.
“If they’ve got a job, then they’ve got access to certain healthcare that they can’t get through the sort of normal systems, they can start to put their lives together.”
The RSL had housed around 23 veterans in the past eight months through its social workers.
A second site in Glenorchy has been identified for another six units, with hopes of reaching 22 new dwellings across Tasmania over the coming years.
Builder Peter Moore said early meetings with council had been positive, with construction expected to take six to eight months once underway.
Subject to approvals, building is expected to begin in early 2027.
