Mental Health Services
Our Veterans return from service with wounds we cannot always see. VA is committed to providing our Veterans with the mental health services they deserve. Too often, the emotional scars of service can contribute to Veteran homelessness or place Veterans at risk of homelessness. VA offers many mental health services for Veterans to help them get back on their feet.
Mental Health Services for Veterans
You answered our country’s call. We’ll answer yours. If you are a homeless Veteran in need of immediate assistance or are at risk of homelessness, VA is here for you. Call VA’s toll-free National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838 (1-877-4AID-VET). The hotline and online chat are free, and neither VA registration nor VA health care enrollment is necessary to use either service. Our trained responders, many of them Veterans, are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
When you call or join the online chat:
- You will be connected to a trained VA responder.
- The responder will ask a few questions to assess your needs.
- If you’re a Veteran, you may be connected to the Homeless Program Coordinator at the nearest VA medical center.
- Contact information will be requested so staff can follow up.
24/7 Confidential Support is a Click Away
VA's Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans (DCHV) Program has been providing medical services to disadvantaged Veterans since the Civil War. Today's DCHV program uses modern, advanced medical techniques in a residential setting for 24/7 support that enables Veterans to live independent, fulfilling, and healthy lives. Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans (DCHV) Program
VA provides a variety of programs and services that Veterans can take advantage of, including:
- VA’s Substance Use Disorder Treatment Enhancement Initiative provides substance use services in the community to aid homeless Veterans’ recovery.
- The Readjustment Counseling Service’s Vet Center Programs feature community-based locations and outreach activities that help to identify and match homeless Veterans with necessary services.
- VA’s Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program offers outreach, exams, treatment, referrals, and case management to Veterans who are homeless and dealing with mental health issues, including substance use. At more than 135 HCHV sites, trained, caring VA specialists provide the tools and support necessary for Veterans to get their lives on a better track. Call VA’s toll-free hotline or visit Learn more about the HCHV Program.
Veterans struggling with mental health issues can also access help by calling the Veterans Crisis Line at 988, then press 1 or go to VeteransCrisisLine.net to chat with a caring VA responder. Those in crisis may send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
To hear the inspiring stories of Veterans who have recovered from substance use, mental health, and homelessness, visit MakeTheConnection.net, which connects Veterans and their friends and family members with information, resources, and solutions to issues affecting their health, well being, and everyday lives.
Mental Health Services for the Community
Asking Just One More Question Could Change a Life: Have You Served in the U.S. Military? Veterans who have lost their housing or are at risk of homelessness can access VA’s comprehensive programs and support. Make the Call: 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838).
For these and many other services VA offers to help you help Veterans, assistance is just a call away.
Make the Call
Dial 1-877-4AID-VET
(1-877-424-3838)
Access VA’s services for homeless and at-risk Veterans, available 24/7.
Chat Online
VA Medical Center
(VAMC) Locator
Locate Your Local
VA Medical Center Now
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.
