VA Augusta Health Care System places more than 120 homeless Veterans in permanent housing

“Fighting homelessness among Veterans is a team effort. The VA Augusta homeless programs staff worked closely with our grantees, contractors, and valued community partners to surpass this goal,” said VA Augusta Health Care System Executive Director Dr. Robin Jackson. “The progress we are seeing is evidence we have the right people applying the right solutions to put an end to local Veteran homelessness.”

VA Augusta and its community partners provided permanent housing placements that included apartments or houses that Veterans could rent or own, often with a subsidy to help make the housing affordable. VA Augusta also helped some Veterans end their homelessness by reuniting them with family and friends.

“Homelessness looks different for everyone,” said Health Care for Homeless Veterans Program Manager, Sabrina Faircloth. “In 2022, we have worked with Veterans who are living in abandoned buildings, local shelters, homes without utilities, and those staying with others on a temporary basis. Each Veteran receives tailored care to address their housing needs and our team serves as a bridge to access additional services needed to stay housed.”

These placements, along with placements provided by other VA health care systems across America, led to VA housing 40,401 Veterans nationwide, meeting and exceeding its national goal by more than 6.3%.

Nationally, the total number of Veterans who experienced homelessness on a single night in January 2022, was 33,129 — a decrease of 11% from January 2020, the last year a comprehensive assessment was conducted. In total, the estimated number of Veterans experiencing homelessness in America has declined by 55.3% since 2010.

All these efforts are built on the evidence-based “Housing First” approach, which prioritizes getting a Veteran into housing, then provides the Veteran with the wraparound support they need to stay housed — including health care, job training, and legal and education assistance.

If you are a Veteran who is experiencing homelessness or at risk for homelessness, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838). Visit the VA Homeless Programs website to learn about housing initiatives and other programs at https://www.va.gov/homeless/hud-vash.asp.

Media seeking more information about VA Augusta Health Care System can contact Megan Kon, Public Affairs Specialist, at Megan.Kon@va.gov.