Albany VA Summer Surge, what is it & how can I help?

What is the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans program?
The Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) program was established in 1987 with the goal of providing comprehensive healthcare services to homeless veterans. It was one of the first large-scale efforts by the VA to address the issue of veteran homelessness.
Secretary Collin’s has continued this critical initiative, Today, the program's goals are to ensure veterans receive timely healthcare, secure stable housing, and access supportive services like employment assistance and life skills training. The HCHV program emphasizes a holistic approach, addressing not only the physical and mental health of veterans but also their social and economic well-being.
What is the Summer Surge?
Per the Secretary “This Administration isn’t waiting for unsheltered Veterans to come to us. We’re taking action through a bold, new initiative called Getting Veterans Off the Streets.”
As Maureen Corbett, the Albany VA HCHV program manager highlighted, Albany leads the way in supporting the Secretary’s new mission. In Fiscal Year 2025, Albany permanently housed 183 Veterans to date and engaged 138 unsheltered veterans.

Miss Corbett continued to say;
“To support this Summer Surge, the HCHV staff partnered with the Voluntary Services team to make ‘Go Bags’ to hand out to Veterans we meet in the community as we develop rapport
and help get them off the streets. The bags include reusable water bottles, a notebook,
socks, lotion, sunscreen, cooling towels and hygiene equipment”

To support this summer surge event, Albany VA is partnering with community agencies
from July 15 through July 17 to identify Veterans living on the streets;
• Joseph’s House Outreach – in Albany and Troy
• Rehabilitative Support Services (RSS) / Safe Options for Support (SOS) Program – in Albany, Kingston, Saratoga, Schenectady
• Catholic Charities of Chenango County / Safe Options for Support (SOS) Program – in Oneonta
• Interfaith Partnership for Homelessness (IPH) / Fulton County Street Outreach – in Gloversville
• The Schenectady HUB – a multi-agency collaborative hosted/facilitated by the Schenectady
Public Health Services and Office of Community Services – in Schenectady
• The Capital District Transportation Authority is donating bus passes for the event

Also providing direct support and outreach are the following Supportive Services for Veterans
and Families Organizations (SSVF) programs
• Albany Housing Coalition – serves Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady
• Soldier On – serves all 18 counties that Albany Stratton VA serves
• Utica Center for Development – serves Otsego and Delaware Counties
• Veterans and Community Housing Coalition – serves Saratoga, Warren, Washington, Schoharie, Fulton, Montgomery and Schenectady
• Westchester County Community Opportunity Program – serves Ulster

What Can You Do?
We all have a part to play in ending Veteran homelessness. There are many ways that Americans can help end Veteran homelessness:
o If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838 for assistance. It is staffed 24/7 with trained counselors who can talk with you right now and connect you with your nearest VA for help.
o If you want to donate food or personal items to the Albany VA food pantry contact Jason Goman at (518) 626- 5506
o To connect with the Albany VA Healthcare for Homeless Veterans team call (518) 626-5332.
o If you are a landlord or housing provider with housing units, rent to Veterans participating in VA homeless programs.
o If you are a business owner, hire homeless and formerly homeless Veterans.
o For more information on renting to or hiring homeless Veterans, visit www.va.gov/homeless.
o And to everyone else, please keep the call center’s number handy – 877-424-3838 – and use it if you know of homeless Veterans needing assistance.