Gary Walp’s Post

🇺🇸The House has approved a major policy overhaul aimed at expanding care and support for veterans, including increased resources for homelessness prevention. Read more on how this could impact veterans nationwide..⬇️ #VeteranNews #Veterans #PolicyUpdate #SupportOurVeterans

"Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced it will award $806.4 million in grants to help homeless and at-risk Veterans through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families and Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem programs. Supportive Services for Veteran Families: Through the SSVF program, VA is awarding 239 grants totaling approximately $797.5 million to community organizations that help rapidly rehouse Veterans and their families, prevent the imminent loss of Veterans’ homes, or identify more suitable housing situations. Grant and Per Diem Program: Through the GPD program, VA will award 14 grants totaling approximately $8.9 million to community organizations that provide Veterans with transitional housing and case management — including connecting eligible Veterans to VA benefits, community-based services, and permanent housing. These special need grants will fund approximately 105 transitional housing beds to support special populations of homeless Veterans including women, elderly, terminally ill, chronically mentally ill, or those who care for minor dependents."

On #VeteransDay we recognize all who have served in our nation's defense and we express our appreciation for their dedication and sacrifice. Unfortunately, not all Veterans are able to lead a "normal" life beyond their time of service. The reasons are many, but their difficult path too often leads to periods of #homelessness. The good news: the total number of veterans who are experiencing homelessness is steadily and significantly decreasing, thanks to some focused programs of relief jointly offered by the VA and HUD. The not-so-good news: the number of #womenveterans who are homeless is actually growing. It's a much smaller number (a little less than 4000 women in 2024) which partially explains the lack of attention. But this clearly cannot be an acceptable pattern, especially since these women are more vulnerable out on the streets. Want to thank a veteran for their service? Find a way to support any housing organization in your community that provides temporary housing for veterans, especially our women veterans. Example: The @FaithHouse in Pensacola Florida, part of the #HonorHerFoundation's efforts https://lnkd.in/erB9VkKP Write a letter to your congressional delegation expressing gratitude for the progress made in reducing veterans homelessness, but include your concerns for the plight of homeless women veterans. This number is projected to grow in the coming years unless we can focus on them and give them the support they earned.

VA announces goal to house 41,000+ Veterans experiencing homelessness in 2024 If you are a Veteran who is experiencing homelessness or at risk for homelessness, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838). Visit the VA Homeless Programs website to learn about housing initiatives and other programs for Veterans exiting homelessness. Specifically, in fiscal year 2024, VA will: Place at least 41,000 Veterans experiencing homelessness into permanent housing. Ensure that at least 95% of the Veterans housed in FY 2024 do not return to homelessness during the year. Engage with at least 40,000 unsheltered Veterans to help them obtain housing and other wraparound services. Thanks in part to VA’s efforts, the number of Veterans experiencing homelessness has fallen by nearly 5% since early 2020 and by more than 52% since 2010. VA also announced specific goals for combating Veteran homelessness in the Greater Los Angeles area. During 2023, VA provided 1,790 permanent housing placements to formerly homeless Veterans in LA, the most of any city in America, and exceeded their local goal by over 19%. In FY 2024, VA will build on that progress by: Permanently housing at least 1,605 Veterans experiencing homelessness. Engaging with at least 2,184 unsheltered Veterans to help them obtain housing and other wraparound services. For more information about VA’s comprehensive efforts to end Veteran homelessness, visit VA.gov/homeless.

The hidden challenge of leaving military service? Housing. This research from Lisa O'Malley into veteran homelessness notes that there are 2,110 homeless families in England last year included a veteran. That's a 14% increase from the previous year. But here's the kicker: this number likely underestimates the problem. Many veterans become "hidden homeless" - couch surfing or living in temporary situations. At Building for Humanity CIC we are working with veterans who have direct experience of this, and it's one of the key drivers behind our ground-breaking scheme in #Accrington, Lancashire. This isn't just about delivering much needed housing, at speed and at scale, this is also about change and how we can create a full wrap-around model to support individuals and families from #Homelessness, #Veterans and #LowIncomeFamilies with the support and the homes they need to improve their lives. It's written in our name - We are #BuildingforHumanity #Veterans #Homelessness #LowIncome #SocialHousing #Humanity #VeteranSupport #HousingCrisis https://lnkd.in/eJPidYn6

VA Surpasses FY 2024 Goal: Over 43,000 Homeless Veterans Housed 🚨 Big News 🚨 The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has exceeded expectations, housing 43,116 veterans experiencing homelessness since October 2023—surpassing the FY 2024 goal of 41,000 one month early! 🎉 This incredible achievement marks significant progress, but the mission to end veteran homelessness is far from complete. 🇺🇸 Since 2010, veteran homelessness has decreased by more than 52%, yet 36,637 veterans remain without permanent housing. These veterans served our nation, and now it’s our duty to ensure they have the safety and stability of a home. Housing is healthcare 🏠💙, and every veteran deserves the security that a permanent home provides. As we celebrate this milestone, we must also address the urgent need for increased outreach to connect with veterans who may be disillusioned or disconnected from available resources. Programs like VASH (Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) and SSVF (Supportive Services for Veteran Families) are lifelines, but too many veterans remain unaware of how to access them. We must prioritize connecting these veterans to the services that can help them transition into permanent housing and regain their independence. 🫡 We won’t rest until the term “homeless veteran” is a thing of the past. The mission continues—and together, we can ensure that every veteran has a place to call home. 🙌 Learn more and join the effort: [https://lnkd.in/gt_3J76P) #Veterans #EndVeteranHomelessness #HousingIsHealthcare #VeteransAffairs #MissionContinues #Homelessness #VASH #SSVF #OutreachMatters #NoVeteranLeftBehind

For folks closely involved in or tracking efforts on #homelessness it's not news that the HUD-VASH program, a collaboration between U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, has been the most successful homelessness program by far. Reducing the number of homeless veterans by half in the last 15 years is no small feat. However, the effort stands out in #homelessnesspolicy precisely because it is not primarily constrained by a lack of money. While there is nearly one #voucher for every homeless veteran, among other Americans the ratio is about one for every seven homeless people. https://lnkd.in/dbhgHCYP What lessons could be learned from helping #veterans avoid homelessness? Are the issues facing those at risk of becoming homeless political or financial? Is it promising or concerning that there is no engagement from #healthcare entities in this work?

Urgent reality check for us all: veterans are still homeless and struggling to find housing. Insufficient funding and bureaucratic red tape are major obstacles for veterans in need. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' efforts to provide supportive housing have fallen short, and it's time for us to step up and provide more resources and support for those who have served our country. The VA is contesting a federal court order that mandates the agency to provide 100 shelter beds and develop 750 apartment units for homeless veterans in Los Angeles. The VA argues that complying with the court’s requirements would divert critical resources from existing veteran services. Advocates for homeless veterans argue that the need for supportive housing is urgent and cannot be overlooked. Approximately 10% of the nation’s homeless veterans live in the greater Los Angeles area. The court ruling aims to expedite housing development on a 388-acre VA campus, a site historically dedicated to serving veterans. Judge David Carter has appointed a special master to oversee the development timeline, emphasizing that without immediate temporary housing, many veterans could face severe consequences. The ruling has been described as a landmark victory for veterans and their advocates, aiming to fulfill the VA's long-standing commitment to provide housing for homeless veterans. Let's work together to ensure that our veterans receive the support they deserve. Every action counts, and collective efforts can lead to meaningful change. If you found this post insightful, sparked a new idea, or presented valuable advice, please select 💡! #Veterans #VeteransAffairs #VeteransMatter #HomelessVeterans #HousingCrisis #SupportOurVeterans #VeteranAdvocacy #LegalBattle #LosAngeles #VeteranSupport

📢 Supporting Our Heroes: Ending Veteran Homelessness No Veteran should be without a home in the country they defended. Together, we can ensure every Veteran has a safe and stable place to call home. The VA recently announced incredible progress in its mission to end Veteran homelessness: 🔹 47,925 Veterans were placed in permanent housing in FY 2024—exceeding the goal by 16%! 🔹 96% of these Veterans remained housed, ensuring stability and support. 🔹 Over 42,000 Veterans experiencing unsheltered homelessness were connected to critical resources. 🔹 Read the full article here 🔗 https://bit.ly/4fgGvwZ 🌟 Find Help Nationwide: NRD.gov offers resources for homeless assistance across the country. 👉 If you or someone you know needs support, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838). #NRD #VeteranHomelessness #SupportOurHeroes #Veterans