Ending Veteran Homelessness

BY SANDY MILLER, CHAIR

As we begin another year, the committee continues to work toward the goal of ending veteran homelessness. The committee has begun reviewing all current Homeless Veteran VVA Resolutions. In addition, the committee will consider a new resolution concerning the Missing In America project. This project, though not specifically for the homeless, provides for the reclamation and dignified burial of remains abandoned at local coroner offices and funeral homes. Currently, the project operates in fourteen states. It has been very active in Florida. The Chair is working with Jim Scollen, the Florida state coordinator for MIAP, in writing the resolution for presentation to the delegates at the 2013 National Convention.

According to recently released information from HUD, veteran homelessness fell by 7.2 percent (or 4,876 individuals) since January 2011, and by 17.2 percent since January 2009.  On a single night in January 2012, more than 62,500 veterans were homeless.

“This report continues a trend that clearly indicates we are on the right track in the fight to end homelessness among veterans. While this is encouraging news, we have more work to do and will not be satisfied until no veteran has to sleep on the street,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “What success we have achieved is directly attributable to the strong leadership from the President and hard work by all of our federal, state, and community partners who are committed to ending veteran homelessness.”

To date, HUD-VASH has given more than 42,000 homeless veterans permanent supportive housing through rental vouchers provided by HUD, along with supportive services and case management by the VA.

In September the Chair attended the 2012 VA Housing Summit in San Antonio, Texas. During this summit, it was obvious that the VA continues to move aggressively forward with its Housing First model, along with the new Transition In Place model. Discussions also began concerning the changing face of VA Homeless Grant and Per Diem programs.

A lengthy discussion reviewed the OIG Report on HGPD programs, resulting in a call for audits of programs throughout the country to ensure they are actually accomplishing the goals established in their grant applications. The VA will be organizing a committee to look at the effectiveness of programs, as well as the HGPD payment methodology. Non-profit agencies across the country have been calling for a change in the payment method for years. We hope that changes will be established, creating a more efficient and effective method of payment.