As a doctor, I learned that data on a chart or in a report could only tell me so much about my patients. Talking with them face-to-face is how I got beyond the numbers, and grasped the true status of their health and well-being.

Now, as VA Under Secretary for Health, I take a similar approach with the Veterans that VA cares for and serves, including those who are homeless. That’s why I’m heading out tonight with VA leaders, staff and community volunteers for the 2016 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count: To interact one-on-one with Veterans who are homeless and learn how to get them housed.

My Los Angeles PIT Count team, joined by hundreds of other teams organized by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), will fan out to count, and then help, those who are homeless that night. Many of my VA colleagues are doing the same in other cities across the country this month. We’ll look for Veterans and other Americans who are living under bridges and in bus shelters, on street corners, in cars and other places not meant for human habitation. We’ll record information on portable devices and on papers attached to clipboards. But the most important thing we will do is make a connection with the Veterans we meet and link them with VA services and stable housing.

This work is vital because it gives VA leaders like me a firsthand look at VA’s homeless outreach efforts—the everyday interventions that are critical to making sure every Veteran has permanent housing.

Taking The Pulse of Our Progress

Annual PIT Counts give us a “snapshot” of homelessness among Veterans on a given night. They are how we take the pulse of our progress toward achieving the urgent national goal of ending Veteran homelessness for good.

The latest PIT Count, conducted in 2015, showed that the vital signs were moving in the right direction: homelessness among Veterans as estimated by the PIT Count is down by nearly 36 percent over the last five years. Since 2010, more than 360,000 Veterans and their family members have been permanently housed, rapidly rehoused, or prevented from falling into homelessness, through a combination of VA’s homeless programs, HUD’s targeted vouchers, and the effort of community leaders throughout the country

When we look beyond these once-a-year national numbers to more frequently reported local data, we get even more insight into how we’re doing—and where we still need to go.

Thanks to new guidelines developed by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), HUD and VA, we can now follow closely the specific actions communities and states are taking to move Veterans from homelessness to permanent housing. These include:

  • Identifying every Veteran by name
  • Documenting specific offers of housing
  • Tracking on-the-ground capacity to get Veterans into permanent housing
  • Setting up the systems to help homeless or at-risk Veterans get housed in the future

And so, in addition to our PIT Count-generated “big picture” of Veteran homelessness in America, we can craft a more detailed community-by-community mosaic of cities and states that have already ended homelessness among Veterans. Nearly 20 cities and states dot this portrait—Virginia, Houston, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and New York City, among them—and more are being drawn in every few weeks.

Sustaining Our Gains

Sustaining these gains takes continuous drive, leadership and resources. Even in places where our partners have ended Veteran homelessness, there is a continuous need to reach and serve new Veterans facing housing insecurity.

Take Houston, for example. With its influx of returning Veterans each year, officials there say they must be prepared to serve roughly 900 to 1,000 Veterans expected to experience housing instability or homelessness each year.

These communities count on continuing to receive VHA’s support through its specialized homeless programs, which served more than 365,000 homeless or at-risk Veterans in fiscal year 2015 alone. Communities count on our readiness to share data and promote best practices like Housing First—providing homeless persons with permanent housing as quickly as possible and supportive services as needed. They count on the willingness of more employment and housing partners to hire and house Veterans exiting homelessness.

Most of all, they count on VA not resting until homelessness among Veterans is rare rather than routine. Today, and indeed every day, they can count on me—and all of VA—to stand with them until every Veteran has a permanent place to call home.

Learn more about VA’s homeless programs and get involved. If you know a Veteran who is homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless, refer him or her to a local VA Medical Center, where homeless coordinators are ready to help. Veterans and their families can also call 1-877-4AID-VET to be connected to VA services.


Dr. David Shulkin

Dr. David Shulkin is Under Secretary for Health at VA, and Chief Executive of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

 

 

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9 Comments

  1. Robert reid February 2, 2016 at 10:15

    Va is as always no good lieing pieces of (redacted)

  2. Patrick jahnke February 1, 2016 at 21:42

    ????is I’m a 100% disable veteran, my landlord pas 4 yrs final gave me a eviction from my appt because for my dogs, I pay rent on time, thier other other sell, do drugs, don’t pay rent on time get away with it, I do believe someone making meth, toxic fumes come from 2 floor blame me, landlord refused to do it legal way, take me to small claims court. Told me he can do it with out any judge, state wis told me he needs to go thru small claims, and a laywer. J i lookan 20th hedrop off work sheet eviction, call me following week, I did send rent check with certificate to sign for rent chk, but. I feel if he needs me out do it right way, it trying find some in va to help me fight give me time find a place warms up I live in wi it in freezing cold. Know I’m looking no luck I just need doc help I can t. Ccc onefor 29-30 days there that , went to a veteran office no luck.,m

  3. Amy January 31, 2016 at 01:44

    I am a Vet rated 100% UE and just became homeless. I have spoken to a few organizations and what i have heard is,”You make too much money, good luck.”
    So, is it “No homeless Veterans in 2016” or “No homeless Veterans in 2016 UNLESS YOU ARE RATED 100%?”
    I am confused and think that the VA is full of shit as usual. They are killing so many Vets and losing papers (yah losing them in the trash) so this No homeless stuff is more crap so no one remembers the thousands of Vets who have died waiting for help.

  4. Dan Reed January 30, 2016 at 22:14

    I requested assistance on behalf of a fellow disabled veteran who is about to become homeless. The VA Tuskegee S/W has called him twice and no serious support is provided. I have not been advised of the Status regarding the referral.

    He has cancer, Lost a leg and is advised the cancer is active again. I made the referral but not much happening so far. He has no transportation, it is a real problem for him & wife. He has minimal food stamps.

    I am concerned, it appears the support is lacking.

  5. Allen Somerset January 30, 2016 at 18:57

    What the homeless need are homes

    Mental health on the streets is rare, if ur not sick when u get there, u soon will be. Cops beat u and people look away and u go crazy.

    Low cost homes are the answer. just tiny houses are enough but we can work for and buy them.

    Then we can go to doctors for our mental pain.

  6. Curtis Lee Denson January 30, 2016 at 12:20

    Please tell all of us honorable Veterans that the VA is not waisting our limted resourses $ on vetrans who are not?

  7. Delphine Clark January 30, 2016 at 02:27

    It is amazing to hear of a doctor in such a high standing position, giving his time to go out and personally locate homeless veterans. I am on my own crusade here in Blair County PA to assist in ending Veteran Homelessness and help veterans facing being placed in non- VA retirement homes not suitable for to care for our Veterans.

  8. Richard Byrne January 29, 2016 at 14:22

    Being close to homeless in NW Indiana, where do I sleep. any assisted living offered here thru VA dickbyrne9@aol.com

  9. alan sykes January 29, 2016 at 10:43

    Thank you for what you’re doing for the homeless Veterans. I to0 was homeless and was helped to get in senior housing in Tipton,MO. Joseph Edwards of the Missouri Veterans Commission!

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