VA Homelessness Programs

The Department of Veterans Affairs has a variety of programs targeted toward veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This page offers an overview of those programs and their purpose within the VA homelessness system.

LATEST NEWS:

On March 21, Congress passed the final fiscal year (FY) 2013 funding legislation for all federal agencies. The President signed the bill into law on Tuesday, March 26. The bill, H.R. 933, funds most of the federal government at FY 2012 levels through September 30, 2013, but includes anomalies, or spending exceptions, for certain key programs, including many programs within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill includes a 33 percent increase from FY 2012 for programs targeted toward homelessness among veterans within the Department of Veterans Affairs. This funding includes $300 million for Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), a $200 million increase from FY 2012; $75 million for new HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers, as well as $245 million for the case management portion of the vouchers; and $235 million for the Grant Per Diem transitional housing program, an $11 million increase from FY 2012. It is also important to note that these programs are exempt from sequestration, the across-the-board cuts to security and non-security discretionary spending.

Overview of VA Homelessness Programs
To meet the Administration's goal of ending veterans' homelessness within five years, Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki has outlined a plan to end veteran homelessness. In order to make this goal a reality, the Department works closely with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and has a variety of programs specifically targeted toward homeless and at-risk veterans.

The Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program provides cost-effective homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing services, which have been the missing piece in VA’s range of interventions. The program is targeted toward veterans and their families who are facing imminent eviction, or are currently homeless. SSVF complements more intensive models for veterans with higher needs, including the Grant and Per Diem transitional housing programs and permanent supportive housing through HUD-VASH. VA also provides the case management portion of HUD-VASH through its regional VA Medical Centers.

Spotlight

Federal Policy Brief | July 15, 2012
The fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget proposal by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) includes increases for VA homeless programs that, while modest in amount, will have a powerful impact in reducing the number of veterans living on the street. VA’s proposal is precisely what is needed in the upcoming year to stay on target with VA’s plan to end veteran homelessness by 2015.

Library Resources

Icon
Federal Policy Brief | April 30, 2013
In order to continue the progress toward ending homelessness for America's veterans, Congress should continue to fund HUD-VASH vouchers to provide housing, coupled with services, to chronically homeless veterans.
Icon
Advocacy Resource | February 22, 2012
SSVF uses proven, cost-effective models to serve tens of thousands of homeless veterans and their families by either preventing their homelessness from occurring in the first place, or quickly moving them out of homelessness and into sustainable housing.