Homeless Veterans
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Homeless Veterans Dental Program
Homeless VeteransHomeless Veterans Dental Program
MISSIONThe mission of the Homeless Veterans Dental Program is to increase the accessibility of quality dental care to homeless Veteran patients and to help assure success in VA-sponsored and VA partnership homeless rehabilitation programs throughout the United States . ABOUT THE HVDPThe Homeless Veterans Dental Program was established by the Veterans Administration in 1992. The program is funded through the Office of Dentistry and located at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital. The dental needs of homeless Veterans are well documented. In surveys listing and ranking the 10 highest unmet needs for homeless Veterans, dental care was consistently ranked by homeless Veterans as one of their top 3 unmet needs, along with long-term permanent housing and childcare. Dental problems, such as pain and/or missing teeth can be tremendous barriers in seeking and obtaining employment. Studies have shown that after dental care, Veterans report significant improvement in perceived oral health, general health and overall self-esteem, thus, supporting the notion that dental care is an important aspect of the overall concept of homeless rehabilitation. There is some limited dental eligibility for homeless Veterans who are in certain VA-sponsored rehabilitation programs. Persons wishing to obtain information regarding the homeless dental program in their area should contact their nearest VA’s homeless coordinator. CONTACT INFORMATIONContacts: For questions or comments about the Homeless Veterans Dental Program contact Carol Yakimo. (Please do not include social security numbers or DD214 information.)
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