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VA Marks 20th Anniversary of Service to Homeless Veterans

February 22, 2007

Secretary Nicholson Announces $24 Million for Homeless Programs

WASHINGTON – On the eve of the 20th anniversary of its first program targeted specifically at the needs and problems of homeless veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced a $24 million spending package -- the largest one-time designation in its history -- for programs benefiting homeless veterans.

“Over the past two decades, we have worked hard to construct bridges leading from the darkened alleys of homelessness to the bright avenues of mainstream society,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson. “This would not be possible without the efforts from faith-based and community service providers who have partnered with VA throughout the years.”

In events today at Veterans Village in San Diego marking VA’s first homeless program two decades ago, Nicholson announced the Department was committing $10 million to support about 1,000 new transitional housing beds nationwide, $12 million for seriously mentally ill veterans, terminally ill veterans and similarly vulnerable groups, and $2 million for other programs.

Twenty years ago, VA began its national effort to eradicate chronic homelessness by providing $5 million for a pilot program to support contract residential care and to create domiciliary care for homeless veterans.

Today, VA supports more than 15,000 beds in transitional housing facilities or on VA residential treatment programs. The Department has become the largest federal provider of direct assistance to the homeless, including outreach and case management, treatment, rehabilitation, transitional residential care, therapeutic work and assistance with permanent housing. VA supports special programs for the treatment and rehabilitation of those suffering from mental illness and addictive disorders.

Since 1988, VA has supported more then 1,500 Stand Downs across the nation. Stand Downs give homeless veterans a temporary refuge where they can obtain food, shelter, clothing and a range of community and VA assistance.

“Our goal is to return to communities sober citizens, gainfully employed, living independently with restored dignity,” said Nicholson. “But the tremendous work done across the nation, as great as it is, is not enough as long as one veteran is homeless.”

VA proposes to spend more then $265 million on specialized homeless assistance in FY 2007.

VA operates the nation’s largest integrated health care system, with 155 hospitals, more than 800 clinics, about 130 nursing homes and 45 domiciliaries, treating about 1 million patients each week.

For more information, visit the VA website at www.va.gov  or contact VA’s Homeless Veterans Programs Office at (202) 273-5764, or e-mail VA at homelessvets@mail.va.gov.

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Larry Scott

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