In a momentous stride toward addressing homelessness among Veterans, VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System announced the successful, permanent housing placement of 752 Veterans in 2023. The more than 750 Veterans represent 107 percent of the 2023 targeted goal of supporting 704 Veterans experiencing homelessness in VA ECHCS’ area of responsibility.
“Each Veteran among the 752 Veterans who now have secure housing represents someone who fought to defend our country and fell out of stable housing,” said Michael Moore, VA ECHCS interim medical center director. “Homelessness is a complex issue, and we are grateful for our dedicated VA ECHCS Homeless Program staff and community partners who continue to tackle this important concern.”
Without secure housing, many of the critical components of well-being are impacted, including access to physical and mental health care, access to employment and access to social connection.
VA is uniquely positioned as a health care system to respond to the homeless crisis, as its housing program for homeless Veterans (HUD-VASH) offers more than just a roof over a Veteran’s head. It also provides Veterans with case management by a social worker, medical care, and housing and social services assistance to help them find and maintain permanent housing. VA also has programs to help Veterans gain meaningful employment and has programs that assist Veterans in the criminal justice system gain access to VA services and programs.
These efforts are built around the evidence-based Housing First approach, which prioritizes getting a Veteran into housing and then assisting the Veteran with access to health care and other support systems that promote stable housing and improved quality of life. The approach does not try to determine who is “housing ready” or demand treatment prior to housing. Instead, treatment and other support services are wrapped around Veterans as they obtain and maintain permanent housing.
“No Veteran should ever experience the tragedy and indignity of homelessness. More than 46,000 formerly homeless Veterans are going to sleep tonight in good, safe, stable homes — and there’s nothing more important than that,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “While this is an important step forward, we’re not stopping here — we’re going to keep pushing until every Veteran has a safe, stable place to call home in this country they fought to defend.”
VA ECHCS’ efforts are part of a Department of Veterans Affairs 2023 goal to house 38,000 homeless Veterans nationally. VA recently announced that 46,552 previously unhoused Veterans are now connected with secure housing in 2023, surpassing the goal by 22.5 percent.
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). Visit VA Homeless Programs to learn about housing initiatives and other programs for Veterans exiting homelessness.
