Homeless News

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has unveiled its new goals for the prevention and eradication of homelessness among veterans in 2023, highlighting its commitment to address this issue effectively. The Veteran Affairs Department will move 38,000+ veterans experiencing homelessness into permanent housing, and ensure that 95% of veterans housed do not become homeless again. Even if they return to homelessness again, the VA will make sure to rehouse them.

There will be around a 10% increase in the number of unsheltered veterans engaged with. VA plans to reduce veteran homelessness in the Los Angeles area. VA provided 1,301 permanent housing placements to these homeless veterans in 2022 and strives to increase the number to 1,500 permanent housing placements. In addition to this, the VA will also continue to engage with unsheltered veterans and provide them with housing.

VA follows the “Housing First” approach whose main concern is getting the veterans into affordable housing and providing them with the desired support such as healthcare, job training, and legal and educational assistance.

VA placed more than 40,000 veterans into permanent housing in 2022 and exceeded its goal by 6%. Unfortunately, 2,443 veterans become homeless again. VA in collaboration with other staff members are projected to have already or will rehouse 86% of veterans by the end of the year. Financial hardships and illnesses are some of the reasons why veterans return to homelessness and the VA moves them into permanent housing.

President Biden in his 2024 budget planned to invest $3.1 Million in providing permanent housing along with other services to homeless veterans and the ones who are at risk of becoming homeless.