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Washington, DC – In a landmark announcement, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness reported an 11% reduction in Veteran homelessness since early 2020. This substantial drop is the largest observed in more than half a decade.
Data from the 2022 Point-in-Time Count, the first complete count since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed that on a single night in January 2022, there were 33,136 Veterans experiencing homelessness in the US, a significant decrease from 37,252 in 2020. These numbers translate to an impressive 55.3% reduction in Veteran homelessness since 2010.
In response to these encouraging figures, VA Secretary Denis McDonough affirmed that while significant progress is being made, the journey to eliminate Veteran homelessness is far from over. Similarly, HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge expressed a commitment to ensuring all Veterans have a home, calling it a starting point for leading healthy, safe, and successful lives.
In light of these reductions achieved amidst a global pandemic and economic crisis, USICH Executive Director Jeff Olivet emphasized that it is indeed possible to address and overcome homelessness even under challenging circumstances.
The 2022 results do not yet reflect the efforts launched by VA, HUD, and USICH, including the VA’s aim to rehouse 38,000 Veterans within the year. As of September, the VA has successfully provided nearly 31,000 homeless Veterans with permanent housing, suggesting a promising trajectory towards achieving or even surpassing the set goal.
These departments have been leveraging the “Housing First” approach, prioritizing housing for Veterans and subsequently offering them comprehensive support to maintain their housing status, such as healthcare, job training, legal assistance, education, and more.
These strides are backed by President Biden’s leadership and the resources provided by Congress, including the American Rescue Plan, which supplied $481 million in additional funding for VA’s homeless programs. The plan contributes more than $5 billion towards individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and over $40 billion for housing provisions nationwide.
For Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness, assistance is available through the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838) and the VA Homeless Programs website, offering various housing initiatives and programs for Veterans transitioning out of homelessness.
Source: VA News
