Atlanta VA Health Care System helps Veterans Homelessness drop to record low levels
As part of the VA’s nationwide effort to reduce Veteran homelessness to record lows, the Atlanta VA Health Care System, in collaboration with key community partners, permanently housed 803 local Veterans experiencing homelessness this year.
Atlanta exceeded its target by 196.1%, placing it fifth among the top seven communities in the nation for reducing Veteran homelessness. Additionally, only 2.1% of those Atlanta-area Veterans returned to homelessness within the same period.
“This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our Homeless Veterans Program staff,” said Atlanta VAHCS Executive Director Kai D. Mentzer. “Our success is not just measured in numbers, but in the profound impact we’ve made on the total well-being of our Veterans. It reflects our shared vision, community collaboration, and unwavering commitment to ending Veteran homelessness.”
According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the number of Veterans experiencing homelessness dropped 7.5% between January 2023 and January 2024, compared to the same 12-month period for the prior year. The number of homeless veterans declined from 35,574 to 32,882, according to HUD’s point-in-time survey, an annual one-night nationwide count.
Atlanta VAHCS also exceeded engaging with unsheltered Veterans to connect them with the housing and resources they need and ensure 100% of Veterans housed have remained in housing.
If you are a Veteran who is experiencing homelessness or at risk for homelessness, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838).