Veterans and Homelessness
Abstract
The current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have brought renewed attention to the needs of veterans, including the needs of homeless veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that it has served approximately 300 returning veterans in its homeless programs and has identified over 1,000 more as being at risk of homelessness. Both male and female veterans are overrepresented in the homeless population, and as the number of veterans increases due to the current wars, there is concern that the number of homeless veterans could rise commensurately. Congress has created numerous programs that serve homeless veterans specifically, almost all of which are funded through the Veterans Health Administration. These programs provide health care and rehabilitation services for homeless veterans (the Health Care for Homeless Veterans and Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans programs), employment assistance (Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program and Compensated Work Therapy program), transitional housing (Grant and Per Diem and Loan Guarantee programs) as well as other supportive services. Through an arrangement with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), approximately 1,000 veterans currently use dedicated Section 8 vouchers for permanent housing, with supportive services provided through the VA. These are referred to as HUD-VASH vouchers. In FY2007, it is estimated that approximately $270 million will be used to fund homeless veterans programs.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 31, 2007
- Accession Number
- ADA479690
Entities
People
- Libby Perl
Organizations
- Library of Congress