Adelaide shelter for homeless veterans

An emergency shelter for homeless war veterans is being launched in Adelaide.

The RSL is opening the Homes for Heroes shelter, which can house up to 16 veterans on a short-term basis, in North Adelaide on Wednesday.

The launch follows growing concerns about the numbers of veterans sleeping rough, the RSL says.

"The first thing is to stop them sleeping rough or in the car or on somebody's couch," former soldier and shelter manager Ben Challinor said.