Success for Veterans

Ending Homelessness

By Erica Rascón on Nov 11, 2016 in News

There has been a series of encouraging reports emerging from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) this quarter. The nation enters fall with a positive outlook regarding housing and services for veterans facing homelessness.

A recent report reveals a 47 percent decline in veteran homelessness since 2010, with a 17 percent decrease between January 2015 and January 2016.

Communities throughout America contribute data to the Point-in-Time (PIT) report, hosted by The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This separate analysis of veteran well-being estimates a 56 percent decrease in veterans without shelter since 2010.

These notable successes are a direct result of greater federal and community commitment to end homelessness amongst former service members:

One of the first targeted initiatives came from the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program in 2008. Through the program, veterans receive rental assistance along with the support of medical and professional services.

Early this summer, HUD-VASH issued $38 million towards housing for 5,200 veterans who struggled with stable housing. The funds were directed to communities’ housing and case management organizations.

Two months later, HUD-VASH provided the funding needed to secure permanent housing for an additional 108 homeless veterans in seven states.

To date, more than 114,000 veterans have received assistance through the program.

In 2010, HUD, VA, and the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness finalized Opening Doors. This one-of-a-kind federal program strategically plans to end chronic homelessness by 2017. The program includes efforts to identify former service members who are at risk of homelessness and take steps to prevent the loss of shelter. For veterans experiencing homelessness, professionals provide barrier-free entry to temporary shelter. They simultaneously work to secure long-term housing and the necessary assistance to maintain those accommodations.

Following in 2014, First Lady Michelle Obama spearheaded the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness. More than 880 local representatives answered the call, each assessing the needs within their local communities and crafting programs to address those needs.

Today, 27 communities and two states have “effectively ended veteran homelessness” through the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness.