VA Central Iowa housed 167 homeless Veterans in 2023
PRESS RELEASE
February 1, 2024
Des Moines , IA — As part of VA’s nationwide homelessness goals for 2023, the VA Central Iowa Health Care System has permanently housed 167 homeless Veterans, exceeding their goal of housing 132 Veterans by 26.5%.
These placements, along with placements provided by other VA health care systems across America, led to VA housing 46,552 Veterans nationwide, meeting and exceeding its national goal by more than 22.5%.
“This goal was achieved through the hard work and dedication of our VA Central Iowa homeless programs staff, our grantees and contractors and our valued community partners,” said VA Central Iowa Medical Center Director Lisa Curnes. “The progress we’re seeing in Central Iowa shows that we have the right solutions to end homelessness for all Veterans in our care.”
Ending Veteran homelessness is a top priority of VA and President Biden, who has made supporting Veterans a key pillar of his Unity Agenda for the nation.
VA Central Iowa also engaged with 100 unsheltered Veterans to connect them with housing and resources they need and ensured that over 95% of Veterans housed have remained in housing. Additionally, 100% of the Veterans who returned to homelessness were rehoused or placed on a pathway to rehousing.
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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 for Veterans exiting homelessness.