Homeless Veteran Programs

VA operates a comprehensive system of programs to prevent and end veteran homelessness, backed by a $3.2 billion FY2025 budget and partnerships with HUD, community organizations, and local governments.

Progress: According to the January 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) count, 32,882 veterans were experiencing homelessness — a 55.6% decline since 2010 and the fewest since HUD first began reporting. In FY2025, VA permanently housed 51,936 veterans.

VA's approach centers on three pillars: coordinated outreach to identify veterans in need, connecting them with housing and healthcare, and collaborating with federal, state, local, and community partners.

HUD-VASH (HUD-VA Supportive Housing) combines HUD's Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) rental assistance with VA case management and clinical services. It is the largest single VA homeless program with a $1.1 billion FY2025 budget.

How it works: HUD provides rental assistance through local Public Housing Agencies (PHAs), and VA provides case management, healthcare, mental health treatment, and other support. Veterans pay approximately 30% of their income toward rent; the voucher covers the remainder.

This is permanent housing — not transitional. Over 113,000 HUD-VASH vouchers are administered by more than 750 PHAs nationwide, with over 85,000 actively under lease.

Eligibility: You must be a veteran and be experiencing homelessness as defined by HUD. Veterans cannot apply directly to HUD — you must be referred through VA, which screens for eligibility and clinical need.

How to apply: Call 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838) or visit your local VA Medical Center and ask for a Homeless Veteran Coordinator. VA assesses eligibility and refers you to the local PHA for a voucher.

Legal authority: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (P.L. 110-161); HUD vouchers under Section 8 of the Housing Act of 1937; VA services under 38 USC Chapter 20.

SSVF provides rapid rehousing and homelessness prevention services through a network of 286 local organizations with a $659 million FY2025 budget. It follows a crisis intervention model — fast, flexible, and veteran-centered.

Two main tracks:

• Rapid rehousing (for veterans currently homeless): Housing search and placement, temporary financial assistance for rent, utilities, and move-in costs, plus case management
• Homelessness prevention (for veterans at imminent risk): Crisis resolution, temporary financial assistance for rental and utility arrears, plus case management

Additional services: Community outreach, household budgeting, landlord engagement, legal services, healthcare navigation, childcare assistance, shared housing coordination, and Shallow Subsidy (longer-term, lower-dollar rental assistance).

Core principles: No preconditions (no employment, sobriety, or treatment requirements), crisis-first response, veteran choice in housing, and progressive engagement (minimal help first, increasing as needed).

Eligibility: Veteran families (including single veterans) with income not exceeding 50% of area median income (AMI), adjusted for family size. A veteran family includes any family where the head of household or spouse is a veteran (38 USC 2044).

How to apply: Call 1-877-4AID-VET, contact your local VA Medical Center homeless coordinator, or find an SSVF grantee directly at va.gov/homeless/ssvf/.

Legal authority: 38 USC 2044; 38 CFR Part 62.

GPD funds community agencies to provide transitional housing and services that help homeless veterans achieve residential stability, develop skills, increase income, and gain greater self-determination. FY2025 budget: $320 million.

Program components:

• Supportive Housing: Temporary housing with case management to transition veterans to permanent housing
• Transition in Place (TIP): Veterans remain in the housing unit after completing the program, transitioning from GPD-funded to self-funded
• Service Centers: Community-based facilities offering case management without housing
• Case Management: Supports housing retention for veterans transitioning to permanent housing

Scale: 369 grants providing 12,138 beds and 18 service centers. GPD Special Need grants provide additional beds for women veterans, elderly veterans, terminally ill veterans, veterans with chronic mental illness, and veterans with minor dependents.

Participant fees: Veterans in GPD housing may be charged fees not exceeding 30% of monthly adjusted income.

How to access: GPD housing is accessed through VA referral. Call 1-877-4AID-VET or visit your local VA Medical Center and ask for a Homeless Veteran Coordinator.

Legal authority: 38 USC 2011 and 2012; 38 CFR Part 61.

HCHV has evolved from a contracting mechanism into a comprehensive hub for connecting homeless veterans to VA care. FY2025 budget: $283 million.

Core components:

• Outreach services: Teams work to find and engage the most vulnerable homeless veterans who are not currently receiving any services
• Contract residential treatment: Places veterans with serious mental health diagnoses into quality, community-based, supportive housing environments

How to access: Call 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838) any time, use the 24/7 online chat, or visit your local VA Medical Center and ask for a Homeless Coordinator.

Legal authority: 38 USC Chapter 20.

Stand Downs are typically one- to three-day community events where VA staff and volunteers provide direct services to homeless and at-risk veterans. They are held across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and DC, primarily from March through October.

Services provided at Stand Downs:

• Food and clothing
• Health screenings
• Healthcare enrollment assistance
• Housing assistance referrals
• Job placement resources
• Substance abuse treatment program connections
• Mental health services

Find events: Search the filterable database at va.gov/homeless/events.asp by state and date. New events are added regularly.

The HVDP provides a one-time course of dental care to eligible homeless veterans. Dental care can be critical for employment and overall health.

Eligibility (two requirements per 38 USC 2062):

• Be enrolled for VA care under 38 USC 1705(a)
• Have received care for 60 consecutive days in a qualifying program (GPD, HCHV contract residential treatment, Domiciliary, Compensated Work Therapy Transitional Residence, or Community Residential Care)

Emergency exception: Veterans with urgent or emergent dental needs do not need to wait 60 days — they can be seen immediately.

What's covered: Dental care necessary for gaining or regaining employment, alleviating pain, and treating moderate to severe gum and periodontal disease.

Legal authority: 38 USC 2062; 38 CFR 17.161 (Class II(b) dental eligibility).

VA operates several employment programs specifically supporting homeless veterans:

• Compensated Work Therapy (CWT): Provides therapeutic work experiences through VA, helping veterans rebuild job skills, work tolerance, and confidence. Includes transitional residence programs. FY2025 budget: $232 million
• Homeless Veteran Community Employment Services: Connects homeless veterans with job opportunities and employment support in their communities. FY2025 budget: $22 million
• SSVF employment support: SSVF grantees offer income maximization services and household budgeting assistance

For career transition resources beyond homeless-specific programs, visit our Career Explorer and Resume Tools pages.

Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) specialists identify justice-involved veterans and connect them with VA health care, housing, and support services. FY2025 budget: $104 million.

• Outreach to veterans in the criminal justice system
• Support for Veterans Treatment Courts (VTCs) with direct case coordination
• Partnerships with criminal justice agencies
• Veterans Re-entry Search Service (VRSS): Helps criminal justice employees identify veterans who could benefit from VA assistance during re-entry after incarceration

How to access: Call 1-877-4AID-VET, visit your local VA Medical Center, or access VRSS at vrss.va.gov. For more details, see our Veterans Treatment Courts and Incarcerated Veterans pages.

VA funds legal services specifically for homeless and at-risk veterans through Legal Services for Veterans (LSV) grants with a $48 million FY2025 budget. These services address legal issues that create barriers to housing stability.

• Housing disputes (eviction defense, landlord-tenant issues)
• VA benefit claims assistance
• Criminal record issues that affect housing and employment
• Child custody and family law
• Outstanding warrants and fines
• Driver's license reinstatement

SSVF grantees also connect veterans with legal services. For comprehensive information about veteran legal resources, visit our Legal Help for Veterans page.

Women are the fastest-growing segment of the veteran population experiencing homelessness. VA programs have expanded to serve their specific needs:

• SSVF serves over 11,600 women veterans
• HUD-VASH supports approximately 11,600 women veterans
• GPD Special Need grants fund women-specific transitional housing beds
• Programs accommodate families with minor dependents

For more resources for women veterans, visit our Women Veterans page.

Source: VA — Where Does the Money Go?