Connecting homeless Veterans to employment opportunities

By Samantha Loving, National HVCES Program Manager, VHA Homeless Programs Office

July 1, 2026

For Veterans experiencing homelessness, the path to stability is rarely a single step. Rather, it is a series of connections—housing, health care, community support—with employment playing a key role in helping Veterans sustain progress and build a foundation for long-term independence.

Through Homeless Veteran Community Employment Services (HVCES), VA helps Veterans participating in VA homeless programs access individualized employment support that is embedded directly within their care.

An integrated approach to employment support

HVCES operates within VA homeless programs at VA Medical Centers nationwide, ensuring employment support is available alongside local housing and clinical services.

This integration matters. Veterans do not need to navigate separate systems or meet additional requirements beyond participation in VA homeless programs. Instead, employment services are available through the same teams supporting their housing and recovery goals.

More than 170 Vocational Development Specialists serve as Community Employment Coordinators (CECs) and Employment Specialists across the country. Working side-by-side with homeless program teams, they help Veterans identify goals, apply for open positions, prepare for employment, and overcome barriers that may stand in the way of stability.

Because HVCES staff are part of the care team, employment planning is not an isolated step—it is intentionally coordinated with housing progress, clinical care, and each Veteran’s individual readiness.

Connecting Veterans to meaningful employment

HVCES staff provide individualized employment support that reflects each Veteran’s strengths, interests, and goals. Their work begins with understanding the Veteran, not just their resume.

CECs actively engage with employers to identify job opportunities and strengthen hiring pathways for Veterans experiencing homelessness. They build relationships with local businesses, workforce agencies such as American Job Centers, Department of Labor programs, and community organizations committed to supporting Veteran employment.

This employer engagement is matched with hands-on support for Veterans. CECs assist with job development, applications, interview preparation, and onboarding, and continue to support Veterans as they adjust to new employment.

CECs also participate in job fairs, Stand Downs, training events, and other outreach activities that connect Veterans with potential employers and career pathways—bringing employment opportunities directly to Veterans where they are already engaged in services.

Employment is part of recovery

Employment is often a turning point in a Veteran’s recovery from homelessness. It brings structure to their day, strengthens confidence, rebuilds social connections, and helps restore a sense of identity and purpose that may have been lost during periods of instability. These benefits can improve overall well-being by supporting better mental health, reducing isolation and risks of suicide, and helping Veterans stay connected to their communities during difficult times. It is also a critical step toward sustaining permanent housing once other supports are in place.

Sustained income can help Veterans secure and maintain permanent housing, reducing the likelihood that they will return to homelessness. It can also support faster transitions from homelessness programs into permanent housing by providing the financial stability needed to move forward.

In fiscal year 2025, 5,225 Veterans moved from homelessness programs into competitive employment. Additionally, 12,700 Veterans were employed at the point they exited VA homeless programs and services.

These outcomes are the result of consistent, hands-on engagement from HVCES staff working alongside homeless program teams and community partners to ensure employment is accessible at every stage of a Veteran’s housing journey.

By embedding employment specialists directly within care teams, VA ensures Veterans receive support that is timely, coordinated, and grounded in their individual goals. Through HVCES, employment goes beyond helping Veterans secure stable income—it provides a foundation for stability, independence, and renewed purpose.