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...

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently announced more than $62 million in aid for homeless veterans. The funds will assist over 9,000 servicemen and women with permanent housing, dedicated case workers, and medical services. Following a year of budget cuts for HUD, the announcement comes as welcomed news. The awards follow data gathered from thousands of cities throughout the US that depict a lingering need for services; though the population of homeless veterans has declined by 33 percent, the report suggests that there are still at least 49,933 homeless veterans remaining in the US today. HUD.gov reports that the HUD-VASH collaboration will allot “$57 million to support 8,276 Tenant-Based Vouchers for rental units in the private market, and $5 million for 730 Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) for existing units or new construction in specific developments.” The program has experienced significant success in the past. Since 2008, more than 74,000 homeless veterans have secured permanent housing through HUD-VASH. Each veteran received a personal assessment by VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) before obtaining a voucher for rental assistance. Veterans who opt into the HUD-VASH program contribute less than 30 percent of their income towards housing. They are also provided with comprehensive case management and access to clinical and career services. “It is unacceptable that after their service and sacrifice, too many of our veterans find themselves living on our streets and in our shelters,” says Secretary Castro. “We’ve made significant progress reducing homelessness among veterans by a third in just four years, and these vouchers will continue to help communities build on these gains, providing targeted assistance to those in need to ensure that every veteran has a home.” President Obama has requested an additional $75...