The Cabin in the Woods project is located at the Togus VA Medical Center in Augusta, Maine, and is designed to shelter and care for homeless Veterans in a safe and supportive community.
Vets on Track Foundation in Virginia makes a Veterans’ transition out of homelessness more comfortable by providing donated furniture and other household items, like bed linens and dishes, for their new homes.
“It's more than just about having somewhere to sleep. It’s about having somewhere where I feel safe; it’s about having somewhere I feel supported; it’s about being a part of something.”
A Navy Veteran is grateful for all the help from VA and its partners, who have given her the skills and confidence to succeed.
Today, women comprise approximately nine percent of all Veterans, and the best available official estimates suggest that they make up the same proportion of the homeless Veteran population.
In Greater Nashua alone – which includes Nashua, and nine nearby communities– nearly 900 formerly homeless Veterans have obtained permanent housing since October 2012.
A clinical social worker from the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System was awarded 2017 Louisiana Social Worker of the Year by the Louisiana chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
As someone who previously experienced homelessness, this Army Veteran can relate to the difficulty some have after leaving the military: “I understand that transitioning to civilian life can be a challenge. Many homeless Veterans are isolated and vulnerable.”
19,000 homeless Veterans are currently enrolled in the program and receive care at 62 active sites across the country. On average, H-PACT participants experienced 31 percent fewer emergency department visits and 24 percent fewer hospitalizations.
Grassroots collaboration, such as this project between VA and local workforce agencies, is helping more Veterans exiting homelessness find stable employment.
The Adopt-a-VA program connects community organizations — such as schools, faith-based groups, and local businesses — and residents who are interested in supporting Veterans in their communities with a local VA medical center or clinic.
When Veterans have a place to call home, they are better able to benefit from other supportive services they need — such as medical care, mental health support and employment services.