From the Revolution to today: Addressing Veteran homelessness

By Katie Rories, Historian, VHA; Jack Tsai, Ph.D., Research Director, VHA Homeless Programs Office; and Shawn Liu, National Homeless Program Manager, VHA Homeless Programs Office

June 29, 2026

How history shaped our nation’s approach to caring for Veterans

The Elizabethan Poor Law, also known as the Poor Relief Act of 1601, served as the foundation for how poverty and homelessness were addressed in the American colonies. It established two forms of relief: “outdoor relief” (financial aid, clothing and food for those unable to work) and “indoor relief” (almshouses, orphanages and workhouses for those who could work but were unemployed).

These early forms of relief established a precedent for providing structured support to those in need and would later influence how assistance was tailored to returning service members.