WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has taken a significant step to address the issue of Veteran homelessness by announcing the award of $806.4 million in grants. These funds will be distributed through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) and Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) programs. The objective is to support homeless and at-risk Veterans with housing and comprehensive services.
The SSVF program will see 239 grants totaling approximately $797.5 million awarded to community organizations. These organizations play a crucial role in swiftly rehousing Veterans and their families, preventing the imminent loss of their homes, and assisting them in finding more suitable housing conditions. This approach has proven effective in mitigating homelessness among Veterans by providing immediate housing solutions and support.
Meanwhile, the GPD program will distribute 14 grants, amounting to around $8.9 million, to community organizations. These grants will fund transitional housing and case management services, including connecting eligible Veterans to VA benefits, community-based services, and permanent housing. Notably, these grants will support approximately 105 transitional housing beds for special populations of homeless Veterans, such as women, the elderly, terminally ill, chronically mentally ill, or those caring for minor dependents.
VA Secretary Denis McDonough emphasized the importance of these initiatives by stating, “We’re making real progress in reducing Veteran homelessness, but there is much more work to do. These grants allow VA and the entire Biden-Harris Administration, alongside community partners, to provide more housing and wraparound services to more homeless and at-risk Veterans than ever before.”
Ending Veteran homelessness remains a top priority for the VA and the Biden-Harris Administration. The number of Veterans experiencing homelessness has decreased by 4.5% from 2020 to 2023, and has seen a significant drop of 52% since 2010. These grants build upon this progress and support VA’s fiscal year 2024 goal of housing 41,000 more homeless Veterans. In 2023 alone, the VA placed more than 46,500 homeless Veterans into permanent housing, surpassing the year’s target by nearly 23%.
The success of these programs is rooted in the evidence-based “Housing First” approach. This strategy prioritizes providing immediate housing solutions to Veterans, followed by comprehensive support services to ensure they remain housed. These services include healthcare, job training, legal and educational assistance, and more. By focusing on immediate housing needs, the “Housing First” approach aims to create a stable foundation upon which Veterans can rebuild their lives.
The VA’s commitment to reducing Veteran homelessness is evident through these substantial grants and the ongoing collaboration with community partners. The combined efforts aim to provide not only housing but also the necessary support services to ensure Veterans can maintain stable and healthy lives.
These initiatives reflect a broader strategy to address the root causes of homelessness among Veterans, offering them the dignity, stability, and care they deserve. As the VA continues to work towards ending Veteran homelessness, the support from these grants will be instrumental in achieving that goal and ensuring that no Veteran is left without a home.
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