Message from Monica Diaz, Executive Director, VHA Homeless Programs Office | October 2020 - VA Homeless Programs
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Message from Monica Diaz, Executive Director, VHA Homeless Programs Office | October 2020

October 29, 2020

Monica Diaz

Staff members from all levels of the VHA Homeless Programs Office (HPO) have been meeting since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic to plan innovative approaches to help Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness obtain and maintain safe housing. These approaches have proven effective. Many unsheltered Veterans, especially those with chronic health problems, have moved to hotels instead of shelters, which keeps them safer from COVID-19. VA has also provided Veterans who are unhoused with mobile phones to help them stay connected to VA case manages, relatives, and VA telehealth services.

This newsletter will highlight several other key accomplishments. For example, HPO has implemented the Veterans Justice Program (VJP) iPad outreach initiative; expanded Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Continuum; continues to support Veterans impacted by Intimate Partner Violence (IPV); and is updating Stand Downs to be safe and effective during the COVID-19 pandemic.

HPO's core values are at the heart of this vital work. We refer to these values with the acronym "HPO CARES": Home, Partnerships, Ownership, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, Excellence, and Service.

  • Home: We believe that ending homelessness starts by providing a safe, affordable, and stable place to call home.
  • Partnerships: We engage in meaningful partnerships at the federal, state, and local levels.
  • Ownership: We own and practice integrity in every step we take, and believe that our work reflects our values.
  • Commitment: We commit to identifying new and better ways of accomplishing our goals through intelligent risk-taking, creativity, and continual research.
  • Advocacy: We advocate for immediate and long-term solutions to homelessness among Veterans and their families.
  • Respect: We respect the right to self-determination among Veterans and their families by demonstrating a high regard for their individual values, preferences, and needs.
  • Excellence: We attain excellence through the pursuit of continual quality improvement, accountability, and integration of best-practice approaches.
  • Service: We provide exceptional mission-driven customer service to all with whom we interact.

As we continue our work in this upcoming year, we will embody these values in the work we do every day for Veterans and their families, as well as with Veterans Integrated Service Networks and VAMC staff, federal agencies, state and local governments, and community partners.

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