{"id":1165,"date":"2026-02-26T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/?p=1165"},"modified":"2026-07-21T18:53:34","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T18:53:34","slug":"what-is-unsheltered-homelessness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/what-is-unsheltered-homelessness\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Unsheltered Homelessness?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull va-page-title-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-179 size-large\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/academic-affiliations\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/05\/Hero2.png?w=1024\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#085795\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide has-text-align-left\">Featured Article<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"va-body-wrapper wp-block-create-block-body-wrapper\"><div class=\"va-body-wrapper__inner\">\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<form role=\"search\" method=\"get\" action=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/\" class=\"wp-block-search__button-outside wp-block-search__text-button wp-block-search\" ><label class=\"wp-block-search__label\" for=\"wp-block-search__input-1\" >Search Articles<\/label><div class=\"wp-block-search__inside-wrapper\" ><input class=\"wp-block-search__input\" id=\"wp-block-search__input-1\" placeholder=\"\" value=\"\" type=\"search\" name=\"s\" required \/><button aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"wp-block-search__button wp-element-button\" type=\"submit\" >Search<\/button><\/div><\/form>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide va-intro-page va-intro-page-1 is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4fc3f8e1 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is Unsheltered Homelessness?<\/h2>\n\n\n<div style=\"background-color: #0073aa\" class=\"wp-block-create-block-colored-spacer has-0073-aa-background-color has-background\"><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>By Shawn Liu, National Homeless Program Manager, Homeless Programs Office<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>February 26, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer wp-container-content-c00f5982\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/01\/Encampment.png\" alt=\"Homeless Encampment on the Parkway\" class=\"wp-image-1166\" style=\"width:900px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/01\/Encampment.png 1200w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/01\/Encampment.png?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/01\/Encampment.png?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/01\/Encampment.png?resize=1024,683 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide va-intro-page va-intro-page-1 is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4fc3f8e1 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The term \u201cunsheltered homeless\u201d is commonly used when talking about services for homeless and at-risk Veterans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a concept, it may feel redundant, like saying PIN number, ATM machine, or chai tea. Aren&#8217;t &#8220;unsheltered&#8221; and &#8220;homeless&#8221; the same things?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer wp-container-content-c00f5982\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting more specific about the homeless experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When we look at data on the number of Veterans experiencing homeless, we often break it down into sheltered and unsheltered homelessness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Veterans who experience <strong><em>sheltered homelessness<\/em><\/strong> often live in places such as emergency shelters, transitional housing programs or other supportive settings. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In contrast, Veterans who experience <strong><em>unsheltered homelessness<\/em><\/strong> live in places not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks, abandoned buildings, and literally on the street.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer wp-container-content-1ac3d91d\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why should we focus on unsheltered homelessness?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unsheltered homelessness is one of the most dangerous situations a person can face. It can severely harm one\u2019s whole health: mind, body, and soul. When a Veteran is unsheltered, there\u2019s no time to delay getting them to a safe place and quickly on a path to permanent, stable housing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer wp-container-content-1ac3d91d\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do unsheltered Veterans get help from VA?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unsheltered Veterans have unique barriers to accessing care: no telephones, transportation, internet access, or mailing addresses. Overcoming these barriers often requires VA staff going out into homeless encampments and other areas where unsheltered Veterans live to enroll them into VA homeless programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And, when Veterans get enrolled, we do everything we can to make sure they access all of the treatment, health care, and benefits they\u2019re entitled to under the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn about the <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/7-essential-elements-to-end-veteran-homelessness\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5178\">seven essential elements for ending Veteran homelessness<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer wp-container-content-1ac3d91d\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How do homeless Veterans (sheltered, unsheltered, and at risk) get connected to these programs?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fastest way for Veterans to connect to these programs is to call our National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. This service is free, confidential, and is staffed 24\/7 with trained counselors who can talk with them right now and connect them with their nearest VA for assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If phone calls are difficult, you can also use our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/homeless\/nationalcallcenter.asp\" rel=\"noopener\">Call Center\u2019s live online chat<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer wp-container-content-6388d5dc\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The term \u201cunsheltered homeless\u201d is commonly used when talking about services for homeless and at-risk Veterans. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":201,"featured_media":1166,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"priority":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[9,8],"class_list":["post-1165","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-articles","tag-encampment","tag-unsheltered"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/what-is-unsheltered-homelessness\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"What is Unsheltered Homelessness?","url":"http:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/what-is-unsheltered-homelessness\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/what-is-unsheltered-homelessness\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/01\/Encampment.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/01\/Encampment.png"},"articleSection":"Featured Articles","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Shawn Liu"}],"creator":["Shawn Liu"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"VA Homeless Programs","logo":""},"keywords":["encampment","unsheltered"],"dateCreated":"2026-02-26T08:00:00Z","datePublished":"2026-02-26T08:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-07-21T18:53:34Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"What is Unsheltered Homelessness?\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/homeless\\\/what-is-unsheltered-homelessness\\\/\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/homeless\\\/what-is-unsheltered-homelessness\\\/\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/homeless\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/72\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/Encampment.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/homeless\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/72\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/Encampment.png\"},\"articleSection\":\"Featured Articles\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Shawn Liu\"}],\"creator\":[\"Shawn Liu\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"VA Homeless Programs\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"encampment\",\"unsheltered\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2026-02-26T08:00:00Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-26T08:00:00Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-21T18:53:34Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/department.va.gov\/p.js"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1165","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/201"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1165"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1165\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5228,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1165\/revisions\/5228"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1166"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1165"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1165"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1165"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}