Beginning Oct. 1, the VA will give away $1.17 billion in grants to address the problem of veteran homelessness.
Of that amount, $855 million will go to organizations that work with the VA's Supportive Services for Veteran Families in the form of one-year grants. The SSVF works with low income veterans and veteran families who are either homeless or who are at risk for it. Their goal is to get veterans back into housing quickly and to prevent homelessness in the first place, working to provide permanent housing.
Of the $1.7 billion, $318 million will go to organizations through the Grant and Per Diem program via three-year grants. This program works to provide services and case management to help veterans stay in their current housing or to provide more appropriate housing for veterans who are elderly, frail, terminally ill or who have minor dependents.
The VA's Housing First philosophy, started in 2012, shifted away from the prior "treatment first" models that had kept too many veterans out of permanent housing. It had required sobriety first, or treatment first, or income first. Now, with the Housing First philosophy, homeless or at-risk veterans can determine for themselves which services they initially want, which lowers the barrier to getting them into actual housing and provides needed stability. Then other services can be offered — healthcare, education, employment, legal — to help maintain that permanent housing.
If you are a veteran who is either homeless or who is in danger of becoming homeless, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. They're open 24/7.
Or you can go online to www.va.gov/homeless/nationalcallcenter.asp and start a chat there.
Everything is confidential, but they will need to ask you a few questions to know which services you qualify for and how best to help you. If you're facing eviction, don't wait, especially if you have a family. Connect with the call center as soon as you know so they can help.
(c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc.
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