Bay Pines VA Earns Top 10 National Ranking for Housing Veterans
The ongoing work by Bay Pines VA Healthcare System to support Veterans experiencing homelessness has propelled the organization to a No. 7 national ranking with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
VA announced 46,552 Veterans were permanently housed in 2023 — surpassing the calendar year goal to house 38,000 Veterans by 22.5%. Bay Pines VA Homeless Team also surpassed it’s goal by 145.5% for 2023, by helping 894 Veterans receive permanent housing.
“These amazing professionals of social workers, housing specialists, peer support specialists, employment specialists, registered nurses, and a nurse practitioner are dedicated to assisting Veterans on their journey to permanent housing,” said Bay Pines VA Social Work Chief Alisha Stanton. “The strong collaborations between our Homeless team who provide transitional housing options and our HUD/VASH team who move Veterans into permanent housing are key to our success.”
Stanton, who served in the U.S. Army, commands a small, battalion-sized element of 252 personnel who routinely deploy across the healthcare system’s 10-county catchment area to assist Veterans.
“I work with the most committed group of social workers in VA, and the credit goes to them,” continued Stanton. “The men and women from our Homeless and HUD/VASH teams work together, under some extreme pressures, to help Veterans move into permanent housing, and as a Veteran, I could not be prouder of the dedication and persistence our team demonstrates daily.”
Stanton reported that her team saw increases in multiple areas over the course of the last year. However, the demographic of Veterans aged 65 years of age and older saw the largest increase:
- HUD-VASH served 316 Veterans in FY23 compared to 275 in FY22. (87% increase)
- Homeless Programs served 194 Veterans in FY23 compared to 152 in FY22. (78% increase)
- HUD-VASH served eight Veterans over the age of 85, which is an increase from 5 served last year (63% increase)
- Homeless Programs served five between ages of 66-85 in FY23, compared to four in FY22. (80% increase)
“Our commitment to helping Veterans receive permanent housing is essential to their overall health care,” added Bay Pines VA Chief of Homeless Programs Yvonne Morales, following a surge event Dec. 13. “We’re proud that Veterans are stepping forward to allow us to help, and we will continue this effort to ensure that every Veteran has a safe and stable place to call home.”
Morales and Stanton stated there are approximately 1,000 additional Veterans who do not have homes in the Bay Pines VA catchment. The team hopes to assist those Veterans during the organization’s annual Stand Down Event, April 6, at C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center.
Information on how local Veterans can receive services and support is available by calling the Bay Pines VA Homeless Walk-in Clinic at 727-398-6661, ext. 17616 or the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877- 4AID-VET.