What are HPACTs?

By Dr. Jillian Weber, National Program Manager, Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams

July 13, 2026

Veterans experiencing homelessness often face challenges that extend far beyond a single medical condition. Housing instability, transportation barriers, and other social factors can make it harder to access health care and maintain long-term stability.

Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams (HPACT) were designed around this reality. Rather than expecting homeless Veterans to navigate separate systems for medical care, behavioral health, housing, and supportive services, the HPACT model brings these resources together through one integrated care team. This whole-health approach helps Veterans access coordinated care that addresses the underlying factors contributing to homelessness while reducing barriers that prevent homeless Veterans from accessing the care they need.

Available at more than 60 locations nationwide, HPACT operates at VA medical centers, community-based outpatient clinics, and Community Resource and Referral Centers, bringing health care and housing services together in one place.

Redesigning care around Veterans’ needs

HPACT is designed for Veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness, including those who are unsheltered or living in shelters, vehicles, or other unstable housing situations.

Unlike traditional primary care, HPACT brings together an integrated care team of primary care providers, nurses, social workers, mental health and substance use counselors, and homeless program staff who work collaboratively to address the specific barriers to medical care, behavioral health care, and housing needs homeless Veterans have.

To make care as accessible as possible, many HPACT clinics offer walk-in appointments and outreach services, helping to connect Veterans who may be disconnected from care. In addition to medical services, many sites provide food and clothing assistance, hygiene supplies, showers, laundry facilities, benefits counseling, case management, and referrals to housing resources.

Beyond the clinic, HPACT serves as a bridge across systems of care. Teams coordinate intensive case management with community organizations, housing providers, and other VA programs to ensure Veterans experience smoother transitions between services. This continuity helps build trust—an essential part of supporting Veterans who may have experienced instability in both housing and health care—and encourages Veterans to stay engaged in the resources and services that support long-term recovery.

Whole-person care leads to better outcomes

The HPACT model demonstrates that coordinated, Veteran-centered care leads to better outcomes. Today, HPACT serves nearly 24,000 Veterans each year through the work of more than 200 dedicated staff members.

Compared with traditional VA primary care , Veterans enrolled in HPACT experience fewer emergency department visits and hospitalizations, engage more consistently in outpatient care, access mental health services more quickly, and obtain permanent housing faster. They also report more positive health care experiences, demonstrating the value of care designed specifically for Veterans experiencing homelessness.

Across the country, HPACT teams continue to expand access to care for homeless Veterans through Mobile Medical Units, harm reduction initiatives, and programs such as Hospital to Housing, which helps connect Veterans leaving inpatient care with housing and supportive services.

This approach reflects a model of care that is both responsive and continuously evolving—meeting homeless Veterans where they are, adapting as their needs change, and helping them build healthier lives with the stability and support needed to move forward.