Good News: Fewer Veterans Without Homes Than Ever Before

In recent news, the United States has seen the lowest number of homeless veterans recorded, thanks to efforts from the Biden-Harris administration. 

This significant achievement was announced today by the US Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These organizations have been working tirelessly to address homelessness among veterans, and their efforts are showing incredible results.

According to a count taken on a single night in early 2024, there were 32,882 homeless veterans across the country. This marks a 7.5% decrease from the previous year, an 11.7% decrease since 2020, and a whopping 55.6% decrease since 2010.

Particularly for those veterans living without any shelter, their numbers also saw a dramatic reduction of 10.7% in the last year.

This positive news comes shortly after the VA proudly shared that it had provided permanent homes to nearly 48,000 veterans over the last year alone, with over 133,000 helped in the past three years. 

Additionally, by the end of Fiscal Year 2024, nearly 90,000 veterans were living under a roof thanks to vouchers provided by the HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH), marking the highest number the program has ever supported.

Adrianne Todman, the Head of HUD, emphasized the administration's commitment to ensuring that every veteran has a place to call home.

The recent drop in veteran homelessness is a testament to the combined efforts of various agencies and partners working together towards this goal.

VA Secretary Denis McDonough expressed that no veteran should have to face homelessness in the country they served to protect.

The decline in homelessness among veterans signifies meaningful progress, but McDonough acknowledges there's still more work to be done to ensure every veteran has stable, safe housing.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, chair of USICH, highlighted the importance of stable housing for the health and well-being of veterans and their families. The efforts over the past four years are evidently making a difference.

USICH Director Jeff Olivet added that solving homelessness is achievable with the right investments in housing and healthcare, coupled with strong leadership and coordination across government departments.

The Biden-Harris administration has been actively working towards combating veteran homelessness. This includes the awarding over $800 million in grants to assist homeless veterans, developing strategies to end veteran homelessness entirely, creating legal service programs for veterans, and making changes to policies to help veterans receive assistance more effectively.

Must read: The Current Administration Enhances Housing Support for Veterans

As part of further efforts, HUD is boosting the eligibility threshold for HUD vouchers and adopting an alternative definition of annual income that benefits veterans seeking housing assistance. 

Additionally, a series of "Boot Camps" are held to help transition veterans from homelessness to permanent housing with necessary support services.

This progress reflects the continuous nationwide efforts to tackle veteran homelessness and extend support to those who've served the country. 

If you're a veteran facing homelessness or at risk, you can call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838) or visit VA.gov/homeless for assistance.

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