Department of Veterans Benefits Affairs logo The Way Forward NATIONAL CALL CENTER FOR HOMELESS VETERANS
VA Homeless Programs Office Monthly Newsletter | November 2024
American flag attached to the side of a home=

NEWS THIS MONTH
A WORD FROM HPO EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR MONICA DIAZ
VETERAN HOMELESSNESS REACHES RECORD LOW
VA HOUSED NEARLY 48,000 VETERANS THIS YEAR
HENNEPIN COUNTY ENDS VETERAN HOMELESSNESS
A Word from Monica Diaz
Executive Director, VHA Homeless Programs Office

We always say that one Veteran experiencing homelessness is one too many. Every year in late fall, we anxiously wait to see if we succeeded in our goal to bring the number of homeless Veterans closer to zero.

Why late fall? Because we get two important pieces of information at this time of year.

First, we find out if we’ve reached our yearly goals for the number of Veterans housed, percentage kept in housing, and number of unsheltered Veterans that we reached out to.

Second, we learn the results of the annual Point-In-Time (PIT) count conducted by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

We’re excited to report that we have good news to report on both counts!

READ MORE


 
Veteran Homelessness Reaches Record Low, Decreasing by 7.5% Since 2023 home key in a door keyhole
VA, HUD, and the USICH announced results of the 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, an annual count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. The data shows a record low in Veteran homelessness since measurement began in 2009 and a 7.5% decrease since 2023. Overall, there has been an 11.7% reduction in Veterans experiencing homelessness since 2020 and a 55.6% reduction since 2010.

VA Housed Nearly 48,000 Veterans this Fiscal Year Decorative display of colorful construction paper homes
VA housed 47,925 Veterans in fiscal year 2024, surpassing our goal to house 41,000 Veterans and marking the largest number of Veterans housed in a single year since 2019. We also ensured that 96% of the Veterans housed during this time did not return to homelessness, surpassing our goal of 95%.
Minnesota’s Hennepin County Ends
Veteran Homelessness 		Sun rising behind a city scape with a pathway curving in front
The largest county in Minnesota has brought an effective end to Veteran homelessness, meaning they’re housing Veterans at a higher rate than they’re coming into the homelessness system. Hennepin County is also one of the most populous counties in the nation to achieve this goal.
ENDING VETERAN HOMELESSNESS PODCAST
Ending Veteran Homelessness podcast

Each year, the HUD PIT Count calculates the number of people experiencing homelessness across the country. Listen to William Snow, senior program specialist in the Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs at HUD, dive into what the PIT Count is, how it’s conducted, and how we use insights from the data as we continue our work to end Veteran homelessness.
City scape aerial view Doctor consulting with a patient Person's hands with IV tubes lying in a bed
Submit Homelessness Research to Cityscape Symposium Guide: Comparing Social
Security and VA Disability 		Expedited Social Security Disability for 100% Disabled Veterans
Woman presenting in front of a screen in a courtroom Doctor checking a patient's heart with a stethescope Aerial view of a neighbood
VA Providence Brings Trauma-Informed Care to the Courtroom Webinar: How Health Systems
Can Help Solve Homelessness 		Podcast Bonus: VA Housed Nearly 48,000 Veterans in FY 2024
Employee Spotlight: Dr. Gloria Howze
Grant and Per Diem Program liaison Dr. Gloria Howze of the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System helps homeless Veterans at an important transition point in their lives. She believes taking a holistic approach to homelessness and considering all components of a Veteran’s life helps contribute to housing success.
Employee Spotlight: Dr. Gloria Howze
Health Update

The holidays are hard for those who are having trouble making ends meet. Heating bills, holiday expenses, and increased medical costs from seasonal illnesses can make it more difficult to put food on the table.

VA can help you access affordable, nutritious food for you and your family. Your VA primary care provider or social worker can connect you with resources, while our registered dietitians can provide tips on shopping on a budget and preparing low-cost meals.

Visit our Food Security Office website to complete a food insecurity screening and learn more about the services available.

NATIONAL CALL CENTER FOR HOMELESS VETERANS
Veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness are strongly
encouraged to contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans
at (877) 4AID-VET (877-424-3838) for assistance.