VA Delivering to Homeless Veterans

VA Delivering to Homeless Veterans

News Release from the VA

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 -- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is the largest federal provider of direct assistance to the homeless. Services provided include health care, outreach and case management, employment, rehabilitation, transitional residential care, therapeutic work and assistance with permanent housing. There has been a 22 percent reduction in the number of homeless veterans in comparison to estimates as recent as five years ago. The estimated number of homeless veterans fell from 250,000 to today’s 195,000 on any given night. Only about 30 percent of homeless veterans are chronically homeless, which are the hardest to reach among the homeless population. VA’s programs are designed to directly serve this important group. More than $300 million in grants have been provided to local partners for homeless programs. VA also partners with communities on stand downs. Providers can contact VA’s Homeless Veterans Programs Office at (202) 273-5764 or homelessvets@mail.va.gov. Visit www1.va.gov/homeless/ for more information.