VA reduces rate of homeless veterans

Even though the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) exceeded its goal for reducing the number of homeless veterans in 2022, it has set the bar even higher for this year.

VA permanently housed 40,401 homeless veterans last year, surpassing its goal of 38,000, according to Shawn Liu, director of communications for VA’s Homeless Programs Office.

Liu said VA set several goals for lowering the number of homeless veterans in 2023. VA seeks to:

• House at least 38,000 more veterans. (As of March, 10,885 veterans have been rehoused.)

• Ensure that at least 95% of veterans housed during this period remain off the streets. (As of March, the percentage was 98.5%.)

• Make sure that at least 90% of veterans who return to homelessness are either rehoused or on a path to being housed again. (As of March, the percentage was 83.1%.)

Help is available for veterans, as well as their family members and other supporters, who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The National Call Center for Homeless Veterans has trained counselors who are ready to talk confidentially 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Call 877-424-3838 or visit va.gov/homeless.