Federal Homelessness Resource Guide

Information by State  Print version

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Here's What We Provide

We help homeless veterans live as self-sufficient and independent citizens. In fact, we’re the only Federal agency that provides substantial hands-on assistance directly to the homeless. Although limited to veterans and their dependents, VA's major homeless-specific programs constitute the largest integrated network of homeless treatment and assistance services in the country.

• VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program

These grants are available to nonprofit organizations. They range from $4,000 to nearly $1 million, provide up to 65% of the cost of acquiring or renovating facilities that will be used for transitional housing, service centers, and/or vans. Partial operating funds may be provided through per diem payments.

• VA Assistance to Stand Downs

We partner with local coalitions to run Stand Downs for Homeless Veterans. In wartime Stand Downs, front line troops are removed to a place of relative safety for rest and needed assistance before returning to combat. Peacetime Stand Downs allow the homeless to obtain food, shelter, clothing, health care, benefits certification, and referrals to other programs. VA Stand Downs are often held in conjunction with community partners offering services for non-veteran homeless.

• Veterans Industries

In the Compensated Work Therapy/Transitional Residence (CWT/TR) Program, disadvantaged, at-risk, and homeless veterans live in community-based supervised group homes. We contract with private industry and the public sector for work done by these veterans, who learn new skills and regain self-esteem. Veterans in the program work and pay toward upkeep of the residence.

• CHALENG

The Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education, and Networking Groups (CHALENG) is a nationwide initiative in which VA medical center and regional office directors work with other agencies and nonprofit to assess the needs of homeless veterans. The purpose is to develop action plans to meet identified needs and to develop directories of community resources to be used by homeless veterans.

• HCHV Program

Our Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program provides outreach, physical and psychiatric health exams, treatment and referrals to homeless veterans with mental health problems (including substance abuse). The program serves over 20,000 homeless veterans each year.

• DCHV

The Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans (DCHV) Program provides residential treatment and rehabilitation to approximately 5,000 homeless veterans each year. The average length of stay in the program is four months. The domiciliaries conduct outreach and referral; vocational counseling and rehabilitation; and post-discharge community support.

• HUD-Vash

We partner with HUD to provide permanent housing through Section 8 housing vouchers and ongoing treatment to the harder-to-serve homeless veterans who are suffering with mental illness or substance abuse. Our staff at 35 sites provides outreach, clinical care and ongoing case management services.

• Supported Housing

This program helps veterans find and retain permanent housing. We provide clinical support to the veteran.

• Drop-In Centers

These programs provide a daytime sanctuary where homeless veterans can clean up, wash their clothes, and participate in a variety of therapeutic and rehabilitative activities. Referrals to longer-term assistance are also available.

• Comprehensive Homeless Centers

VA's Comprehensive Homeless Centers (CHC) provide the full range of VA homeless efforts in Anchorage, Brooklyn, Cleveland, Dallas, Little Rock, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and West Los Angeles.

• VBA-VHA Special Outreach and Benefits Assistance

Veterans Benefits Counselors provide outreach, benefits counseling and referrals to eligible veterans applying for VA benefits. New VBA procedures are reducing the processing times for homeless veterans' benefits claims.

• VBA's Acquired Property Sales for Homeless Providers

This program makes all the properties we obtain through foreclosures on VA-insured mortgages available for sale to homeless provider organizations at a discount of 20 to 50 percent, depending on time of the market.

• VA Excess Property for Homeless Veterans Initiative

Excess personal property, such as hats, parkas, footwear, socks, sleeping bags, and other items are available to homeless veterans and homeless veteran programs. A Compensated Work Therapy Program employing formerly homeless veterans has been established at the Medical Center in Lyons, NJ to receive, warehouse, and ship these goods to VA homeless programs across the country.

Here’s Who to Contact

West Texas and New Mexico
Steve Cohen
520 792-1450 extension 5475

Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana
Estella Morris
501 257-4499

Texas
Greta Mankins
214 857-0374