VA Homeless Programs
Message from Monica Diaz, Executive Director, VHA Homeless Programs Office | August 2021
August 2021
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention instituted a new, limited moratorium that halts evictions for people who live in counties with substantial or high levels of community transmission of the coronavirus. Although these renter protections cover communities across the country, millions of Americans, including Veterans, are still at risk of a housing crisis. To ensure that Veterans and their families remain safely housed during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond, the VHA Homeless Programs Office (HPO) continues to work closely with community partners to identify Veterans experiencing housing crises and connect them with appropriate VA and non-VA resources. VA’s goal remains ensuring that every Veteran and Veteran family has a stable place to call home.
VA, together with other government agencies including Housing and Urban Development and Department of the Treasury, can help Veterans who will be at risk of homelessness when these bans on evictions are lifted on October 3, 2021. One of the first places Veterans who may be at risk of homelessness can turn when these bans on evictions are lifted is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Rent Assistance Finder. State and local organizations are offering rental assistance, and users can search for assistance that is available where they live. The Biden-Harris administration implemented the American Rescue Plan, which offered $10 billion in funding for direct relief to families impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Now, VA is working to utilize the American Rescue Plan funds to help Veterans. VA’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program will continue to provide supportive services such as temporary financial assistance and legal aid, and its Shallow Subsidy initiative will offer a small subsidy for two years to low-income Veterans at risk of homelessness. Currently, SSVF is working to expand this service to make it available in every county and equivalent in the 50 United States; the District of Columbia; Puerto Rico; the U.S. Virgin Islands; and Guam. We expect this expanded service to be available in September 2021.
There are many resources for Veterans who are at risk of homelessness due to eviction moratoria or other circumstances. Veterans who have fallen behind or are at risk of falling behind on their mortgage payments can contact VA’s Home Loan Center. Emergency Rental Assistance can help Veterans and their families avoid eviction, as well.
VA is also implementing a short-term mortgage repayent assistance program through its Partial Claim Payment program, which helps bring some borrowers current on their mortgage as they start making mortgage payments again. As foreclosure moratoria end, VA will help prevent foreclosures on VA-backed mortgages until borrowers are reviewed for affordable COVID-19 home retention options.
As always, Veterans and their families should call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-4AID VET or (877) 424-3838 to be connected with VA assistance with housing crises, health care needs, employment and more. Calls are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our office, and everyone at VA, is prepared to meet this next challenge facing Veterans. We are behind them, every step of the way. Learn more about supportive services available to Veterans impacted by the discontinuation of the eviction moratoria, COVID-19 updates, and the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans by visiting our VA eviction assistance resources webpage.
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Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness can call or visit their local VA Medical Center (VAMC) and ask for a Homeless Coordinator. Use the VA locator tool www.va.gov/directory to find your nearest VAMC and call or visit today.
