Working Together to End Veteran Homelessness

“President Obama and I are personally committed

to ending homelessness among Veterans within the

next five years. Those who have served this nation

as Veterans should never find themselves on the

streets, living without care and without hope.”

–VA Secretary Eric Shinseki

Nov. 3, 2009

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About Homelessness Among Veterans

How Many Veterans Are Homeless?

62,619 Veterans were homeless on a single night in 2012.

Of Veterans who were homeless, about 56 percent

(35,143 people) were sheltered and about 44 percent

(27,476 people) were unsheltered.

Veterans comprised 9.8 percent of all adults who were

homeless in 2012.

Homelessness among Veterans has declined by 7.2

percent since 2011 and by 17.2 percent since 2009.

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Where Are They?

They’re in all 50 states, but the

highest concentrations are in

California, Texas, Florida,

Colorado, Georgia, and New

York.

49 percent are in major cities.

39 percent are in Continuums

of Care (CoCs) that represent

smaller cities, counties, and

regions.

13 percent are in CoCs that

represent an entire state or the

balance of a state.

Cities or counties with the highest population of Veterans who are homeless:

Los Angeles 6,371

New York City 3,790

San Diego 1,753

Las Vegas 1,303

Atlanta 1,232

Houston 1,162

Orange County, Calif. 869

Phoenix 852

Tampa 800

Seattle 796

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Who Are They?

All Veterans

Average age is 51

83 percent have at least one chronic medical condition

55 percent have a drug or alcohol use disorder

Women and Families

Veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan and women Veterans

experienced higher homeless incidences after military separation

Veterans who are homeless, especially women, have experienced

military sexual trauma (MST)-related treatment more than the general

population of Veterans

What VA Is Doing to Prevent and End

Veteran Homelessness

Overview

VA’s goal is to end Veteran homelessness by the end of 2015.

VA serves Veterans who are homeless and at risk of becoming

homeless.

In fiscal 2013, VA expects to spend $4.4 billion on core health care

services for Veterans who are homeless and $1.4 billion on

specialized homeless programs.

Each VA medical center employs at least one homeless coordinator

who serves as a case worker and community liaison.

VA continues to build extensive partnerships within and outside of

government.

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Partnerships

VA’s success comes from a variety of collaborations within VA

and throughout government.

Partnerships within VA Veterans Health Administration

Veterans Benefits Administration

National Cemetery Administration

Partnerships with other government agencies U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

U.S. Departments of Labor, Education, Justice, Defense, and Health and

Human Services

State Departments of Veterans Affairs

National Outreach Campaign

Promotes the resources available to Veterans who are homeless or at

risk of becoming homeless

Advertising and public service announcements: television, radio, and

out-of-home

Media relations: print, online, and broadcast media

Online advertising: Facebook, online banners, YouTube, and other

online channels

Partnership outreach: to local, state, and national organizations that

serve Veterans, people who are homeless, and related groups

Materials: brochures, posters, and promotional items for VA and

partner groups to distribute throughout communities

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Success Stories PSA Bus Shelter Ad

Target Audiences

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General public

Veterans who are homeless

Veterans and their families at risk of becoming homeless

Women Veterans

Veteran community and Veterans service organizations (The

American Legion, Veterans of American Wars, etc.)

Friends and relatives of Veterans who are homeless

First responders and front-line workers

Social service providers

Community organizations

Local and state government agencies

VHA and community medical providers

Community Partnerships

VA funds and supports community service providers: VA has 4,000 interagency collaboration agreements with community service providers to extend services to 2,418 shelters, soup kitchens, safe havens, welfare offices, and other locations. These agreements have spurred the development of additional housing resources.

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VA creates partnerships to spur awareness: VA has also established partnerships to distribute information and create awareness of VA’s programs with more than 2,990 organizations.

1,070

423

403

210

176

168

128

97

92

86

53

39

34

8

8

4

2

Veterans Service Organization

Continuum of Care

Community-Based Organization

Faith-Based Organization

Homeless Shelter

Food Bank

Health Care Organization

Library

Government Agency

EMS/Firefighters

Law Enforcement

Chamber of Commerce

Judge/Public Defender

Educational Institution

Transportation Provider/Station

Veterans Court

Corporation

0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200

National Call Center for Homeless Veterans

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VA has established a toll-free number (877-

4AID-VET) and online chat

(www.va.gov/homeless) that… Exists as a simple point of entry for Veterans who are homeless or at-risk

of becoming homeless

Provides 24/7 services for Veterans who are homeless or in imminent

danger of losing their homes

Is staffed by trained responders who connect Veterans with

comprehensive, individualized services

Anyone can call for a Veteran in crisis

Is co-located with the Veterans Crisis Line to provide mental health

support

The Results

From fiscal 2011 to 2012

Total calls: up 123 percent

Calls from Veterans who

are homeless: up 65

percent

Calls from Veterans at risk

of becoming homeless: up

127 percent

Referrals to VA services:

up 132 percent

36,090

8,683

20,750 21,763

80,558

14,386

47,231

50,608

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

Total Calls Homeless Calls At Risk ofHomelessness

Calls

POC Referrals

FY11

FY12

How VA Serves Veteran Families and Children

Supportive Services for Veterans and Families (SSVF)

Helps Veterans and their families keep their homes or find housing quickly.

Provides case management, financial counseling, and temporary funds.

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Supportive Services for Veterans and Families (SSVF), continued

Results of first round of awards ($60 million):

Served 35,363 people, exceeding the projection of 22,000

Of 21,393 Veteran participants, 3,285 are women (15.4 percent of Veterans

served)

Significant impact on Veteran families with 8,826 children assisted

3,335 Veteran participants served in Iraq or Afghanistan (15.6 percent of Veterans

served)

86 percent of those discharged (17,871 of 20,703) have permanent housing,

including 9,529 formerly homeless and 8,342 at-risk participants; another 9.4

percent (1,952) are in temporary or institutional settings

Average LOS for discharged participants is 93 days

In July 2012, VA made its second award of grants ($100 million) to 151 community agencies within 49 states and the District of Columbia

Additional $300 million to be awarded in Summer 2013

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Department of Housing and Urban Development - VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH)

Provides Section 8 housing vouchers coupled with long-term

case management, and supportive services focused on

Veterans.

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Department of Housing and Urban Development - VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH), continued

Accomplishments to date:

More than 47,000 HUD-VASH vouchers were available from fiscal 2008-2012.

14 percent of HUD-VASH vouchers were provided to Veterans with children.

12 percent of HUD-VASH recipient Veterans are women.

Among women, 28 percent are housed with children.

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Grant and Per Diem (GPD)

Transitions Veterans to independent housing

VA’s largest transitional housing program: more than 600 projects providing

approximately 14,000 beds nationwide

Community-based transitional model including time-limited, wraparound

supportive services

Accomplishments to date:

[Should we delete or update?]In fiscal 2011, the GPD program

operationalized 111 new projects, providing an additional 2,015 transitional

housing beds.

In October 2011, VA awarded $10.3 million to 26 community-based projects

to continue to provide enhanced services for populations with special needs

(women, elderly, chronically mentally ill).

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Other Key VA Programs for Veterans

Who Are Homeless or At Risk of

Becoming Homeless

Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV)

Three-pronged approach

Emergency housing and same-day placement of Veterans

with community-based residential treatment service

providers

Outreach

Case management

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Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV), continued

Low Demand/Safe Haven demonstration project provides transitional housing for

hard-to-reach homeless persons with mental illnesses and substance use

disorders

Low-demand, nonintrusive environment designed to establish trust and

eventually engage Veterans in treatment services and transitional and

permanent housing options

Selected demonstration sites include Boston; Bronx, N.Y.; Philadelphia;

and Bay Pines, Fla.

Accomplishments to date:

In fiscal 2012, VA deployed $5,425,394 in HCHV contract funding for Low

Demand/Safe Haven Programs as a demonstration project.

By end of the second quarter of fiscal 2012, 80 transitional beds were

operational at demonstration sites.

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Homeless Veteran Supported Employment Program (HVSEP)

Provides vocational assistance, job development and placement, and ongoing

support

Accomplishments to date:

7,128 Veterans received services through HVSEP

2,110 Veterans found work through HVSEP

Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist positions at VA

• 402 approved full-time positions

• 359 (89 percent) filled by Veterans who are or were homeless

• Approximately 25 percent of hires are women Veterans

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Homeless Veterans Outreach Coordinators

Each of the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA)’s 57 regional offices has a homeless

Veterans outreach coordinator to work with Veterans, Veterans at risk of homelessness,

and their families. These coordinators also help prevent women Veterans and their families

from becoming homeless through coordination with VA’s women Veteran coordinators,

coordinate delivery of VA benefits access with local community homeless providers. and

ensure compensation and pension claims are expedited for Veterans who are homeless.

Progress to date:

During fiscal 2011, VBA field staff conducted more than 9,000 hours of outreach to

more than 38,250 Veterans who are homeless.

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Veterans Benefits Administration Increasing Efforts to Help Veterans Who Are Homeless

Entitlement for Veterans who are homeless is a key component of VA's plan to end

Veteran homelessness. All Veterans who are homeless and at risk of becoming homeless

must have easy access to review their eligibility and apply for VA benefits. Homeless

claims are expedited through processing at the regional offices, which includes requests

for military records from the Records Management Center in St. Louis.

Accomplishments:

The number of homeless claims processed continues to increase.

Fiscal 2009: 5,451

Fiscal 2010: 7,754 (42 percent increase over fiscal 2009)

Fiscal 2011: 11,197 (44 percent increase over fiscal 2010)

Fiscal 2012 (quarters 1 and 2): 5,685

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Veterans Benefits Administration Increasing Efforts to Help Veterans Who Are Homeless, continued

VA recognizes how important it is for Veterans to avoid foreclosure and will work with

Veterans to keep them in their homes. In cases where a loan servicer is unable to help a

Veteran borrower, VA loan guaranty has loan technicians in eight regional loan centers and

two special servicing centers who take an active role in interceding with the servicer to

explore all options to avoid foreclosure.

Nationwide, VA loans have had the lowest foreclosure rate and serious delinquency

rate for the past 16 and 13 quarters, respectively (per the Mortgage Bankers

Association National Delinquency Survey).

In fiscal 2011, VA helped 73,000 Veterans in default (83 percent) remain in their homes

or avoid foreclosure—a 10 percent increase over the number helped in fiscal 2010

(66,000 Veterans, or 76 percent).

In the past three years, VA has saved 176,577 Veterans and their families from

foreclosure, which means VA avoided $5.5 billion in claim payments.

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Where Do We Go From Here?

VA Fiscal 2013 Goals for Ending Homelessness Among Veterans

Reduce number of Veterans who are homeless to 47,000

Continue national outreach campaign

TV/radio public service announcements

Media buys: print, online, bus ads, billboards

Partnerships with national organizations and local

organizations in 15 target cities and all 50 states

Provide case management for 10,000 new HUD-VASH

voucher recipients and sustain case management for

more than 48,000 Veterans with existing vouchers

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Your Role in Ending Homelessness

Among Veterans

What Can the Public Do?

Make the Call to 877-4AID-VET or visit

www.va.gov/homeless 24/7 services for Veterans who are homeless or in imminent danger of

losing their homes

Trained responders connect Veterans with comprehensive, individualized

services

Anyone can call for a Veteran in crisis

Co-located with the Veterans Crisis Line to provide mental health support

Refer Veterans to VA and connect them with a

homeless coordinator at a VA medical center

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What Can Your Organization Do?

Spread the word about VA’s initiative and VA’s

services Place an article in newsletters or publications

Post Facebook, Twitter, blog content on your sites

Add a banner ad or partner badge on your website

Distribute brochures, posters, wallet cards, tear cards

Educate your colleagues about what they can do to

help Veterans and their families

Stop by our table!

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What Are the Most Important Things to Know?

VA is committed to ending Veteran

homelessness by the end of 2015 but needs the

help of our partners.

The best way to help a Veteran who is homeless

or at imminent risk of becoming homeless is to

Make the Call to 877-4AID-VET.

Visit www.va.gov/homeless to learn about VA’s

services to help Veterans who are homeless or at

risk of becoming homeless.

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Join VA as a partner to prevent and end homelessness among Veterans and their families. Thank you!

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