OKC VA Health Care System Housed Over 250 Homeless Veterans in 2022

Nationally, the total number of Veterans experiencing homelessness has decreased by 11% since January 2020. In total, the estimated number of Veterans experiencing homelessness in America has declined by 55.3% since 2010.

“We continue to work with the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Programs to expand our capabilities,” said OKC VA HCS Director Wade Vlosich. “We are excited about our Homeless Primary Care Team expansion, where the Oklahoma City VA is purchasing a Mobile Medical Unit Van to provide care to our homeless Veterans.”

According to Mr. Vlosich, a mobile medical unit will provide VA medical staff working with homeless Veterans with the necessary infrastructure to provide care and a community-based settings to ensure a safe and confidential space with proper medical supplies and equipment readily available. This will help to expand services and increase access to care for Veterans experiencing homelessness.

These Mobile Medical Unit Vans will travel to specific emergency shelters transitional housing sites and homeless camps. Additionally, this will allow the OKC VA HCS to provide clinical care to Veterans that have restrictive movements because they are admitted to halfway houses or sober living facilities. This mobile van will also be used for vaccination drives and other activities to benefit Veterans overall health care needs.

The goal of OKC VA HCS leadership is to eliminate Veteran homelessness by providing shelter, transitional and permanent housing to Veterans to those who need it the most. Some examples are providing employment and different legal services through the Veterans Justice Outreach program.

“Presently, we are working with over 450 Vets in HUD-VASH on permanent housing. We have 62 of those searching for properties in the area now. HUD-VASH has worked with the newly hired Support Services to Veteran Families (SSVF) Housing Navigator to identify new properties for rent and at the last report, the navigator had identified over 30 properties,” said Cale Powers, Acting Chief of Social Work at the OKC VA HCS.

“As of 1/27/2023 HUD-VASH has secured pre-inspections at a new property which has over 90 units available and compared to the national statistics, OKC finished at 86% of our goal and with SSVF’s assistance housed over 250 Veteran in 2022.”

Throughout 2022, VA staff helped Veterans find permanent housing such as apartments or houses that Veterans could rent or own, often with a subsidy to help make the housing affordable. VA staff also helped some Veterans end their homelessness by reuniting them with family and friends.

For the local Veteran in need and on the verge of being homeless, the most immediate resource is the OKC VA HCS Homeless walk-in office, located at 921 NE 13th Street (Room 1B107), open Monday-Friday 0800-1600.

HUD-VASH offers a variety of supportive clinical services to those in the program including psychotherapy, group therapy, employment services and peer-recovery support.

“While the OKC VA HCS doesn’t provide direct financial assistance we work closely with SSVF who does provide resources,” Powers said. “They have the same income or financial limits as HUD and Veterans can reach them directly for a screening by calling 405-724-3360 or 580-557-0755.”  

“Coming later in 2023 the OKCVAHCS will begin construction on a new Transitional Residence, increasing the beds by 50%,” Powers said.

“The OKC VA HCS statistics are comparable to the national averages regarding Veteran homelessness, but we strive to do better,” Vlosich said. “It is our job as the caretaker of our nation's most valued resource to ensure that no Veteran is left behind.”

Phillip Ybarra, Public Affairs Specialist

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