The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that it has housed 43,116 veterans experiencing homelessness between October 2023 and August 2024. This achievement surpasses its fiscal year 2024 goal of housing 41,000 veterans, one month before the end of the fiscal year. Additionally, VA reported that 96.3% of these veterans have not returned to homelessness and engaged with 38,476 unsheltered veterans to provide necessary housing and services.
Preventing and eliminating veteran homelessness remains a top priority for VA and the Biden-Harris Administration. Between 2022 and 2023, VA permanently housed nearly 87,000 veterans. These efforts have led to a reduction in veteran homelessness by over 4% since early 2020 and more than 52% since 2010.
“No person who has served this country should ever have to experience homelessness,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “As a result of this year’s efforts, more than 43,000 formerly homeless Veterans now have access to the homes that they deserve. And make no mistake: we won’t rest until every Veteran has a safe, stable, accessible, and affordable home to call their own.”
In Greater Los Angeles alone, VA provided permanent housing for 1,647 homeless veterans this fiscal year — the highest number among U.S. cities for three consecutive years — exceeding its FY 2024 goals for the region by 2.6%. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority's recent Point-in-Time count showed a significant reduction of veteran homelessness in Los Angeles by 22.9% between 2023 and 2024.
The Biden-Harris Administration has taken significant steps this year to address veteran homelessness. Recently, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness released the federal government’s first framework for homelessness prevention and launched a series spotlighting local and federal efforts in this area. Last month, VA awarded over $800 million in grants through its Supportive Services for Veteran Families program and Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem programs; additionally, it awarded over $26 million in grants in July to support legal services for homeless veterans.
Furthermore, policy changes announced last month by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) alongside VA will facilitate greater access to housing assistance under the HUD-VA Supportive Housing program.
VA's approach to combating veteran homelessness is based on reaching out directly to homeless veterans to understand their needs better while providing necessary support through an evidence-based "Housing First" strategy. This method prioritizes securing housing first before offering additional services such as healthcare, job training, legal aid, education assistance among others.
Daily efforts by VA staff along with community partners nationwide focus on helping veterans find permanent housing options like apartments or houses often subsidized to ensure affordability or reuniting them with family members where possible.
For more information about these initiatives or other programs supporting homeless veterans visit VA.gov/homeless.
