Housing provided to 158 Veterans experiencing homelessness this fiscal year

122 unsheltered Veterans have been engaged to ensure they have access to the housing and other wraparound services they need, a process critical to ensure they are aware of local resources and support when homeless encampments are closed.

Nationally, VA housed 43,116 Veterans experiencing homelessness, surpassing its goal to house 41,000 Veterans in fiscal year 2024 a month early. A total of 96.3% of those Veterans housed have not returned to homelessness, and 38,476 unsheltered Veterans have been engaged nationally.

Preventing and eliminating Veteran homelessness is a top priority for VA and the entire Biden-Harris Administration. Between 2022 and 2023, VA permanently housed nearly 87,000 Veterans. As a result of these efforts, the number of Veterans experiencing homelessness in the U.S. has fallen by over 4% since early 2020 and by more than 52% since 2010.

“No person who has served this country should ever have to experience homelessness,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “As a result of this year’s efforts, more than 43,000 formerly homeless Veterans now have access to the homes that they deserve. And make no mistake: we won’t rest until every Veteran has a safe, stable, accessible, and affordable home to call their own.”

VA and the entire administration have taken considerable steps this year to combat Veteran homelessness.

• This week, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness released the federal government’s first ever framework for homelessness prevention and launched a new series spotlighting local and federal efforts to prevent homelessness.
  • Locally, Dole VA has applied for Wichita to be highlighted as a community that has effectively ended Veteran homelessness.
• Last month, VA awarded more than $800 million in grants via its Supportive Services for Veteran Families and Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem programs.
  • Locally, both Catholic Charities and The Salvation Army were awarded a total of $6.2 million in grants.
• In July, VA awarded over $26 million in grants to support legal services for Veterans facing homelessness.
  • Kansas Legal Services received a grant and is now providing support to local homeless Veterans.
• Last month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and VA announced policy changes that will help more Veterans receive housing assistance under the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.
  • These policy changes enabled the City of Wichita to bring an additional 60 HUD-VASH vouchers to house local Veterans.

 VA’s efforts to combat Veteran homelessness are grounded in reaching out to homeless Veterans, understanding their unique needs, and addressing them. These efforts are built on the evidence-based “Housing First” approach, which prioritizes getting a Veteran into housing, then providing or connecting them with the wraparound services and supports they need to stay housed, including health care, job training, legal and education assistance, and more.

Every day, VA staff and VA’s community partners nationwide help Veterans find permanent housing, such as apartments or houses to rent or own, often with subsidies to help make the housing affordable. In some cases, VA staff and partners help Veterans end their homelessness by reuniting them with family and friends.

“At Dole VA, our team comprises highly skilled social workers, nurses, and other support staff who take pride in the work they do each day,” said Dole VA Medical Center Director Michael Payne. “They are honored to serve homeless Veterans and make housing a reality for them. Alongside our dedicated partners, we stand as one team to ensure homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring for our Veterans.”

If you are a Veteran who is experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838) or visit VA.gov/homeless.