{"id":2020,"date":"2024-10-10T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-10T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/?p=2020"},"modified":"2026-03-20T18:44:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T18:44:32","slug":"world-homeless-day-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/world-homeless-day-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"World Homeless Day 2024"},"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\">World Homeless Day 2024<\/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>October 10, 2024<\/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=\"12365\" height=\"6996\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/02\/whd.jpeg\" alt=\"World Homeless Day\" class=\"wp-image-2030\" style=\"width:900px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/02\/whd.jpeg 12365w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/02\/whd.jpeg?resize=300,170 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/02\/whd.jpeg?resize=768,435 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/02\/whd.jpeg?resize=1024,579 1024w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/02\/whd.jpeg?resize=1536,869 1536w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/02\/whd.jpeg?resize=2048,1159 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 12365px) 100vw, 12365px\" \/><\/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\">Each year, on October 10, we commemorate World Homeless Day by drawing attention to the needs of those experiencing homelessness and providing opportunities for the community to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VA is committed to ending homelessness among Veterans because it is our nation&#8217;s duty to ensure all Veterans have a place to call home\u2014and we have made significant progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since 2010, the number of Veterans experiencing homelessness in the United States has declined by more than 52%. And since 2015, 84 communities and 3 states (Virginia, Connecticut, and Delaware) have&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/effectivelyended\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"488\">achieved an effective end to Veteran homelessness<\/a>.<\/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\">The state of Veteran homelessness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.huduser.gov\/portal\/datasets\/ahar\/2022-ahar-part-1-pit-estimates-of-homelessness-in-the-us.html\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development<\/a>, on a single night in January 2023, 35,574 Veterans experienced homelessness in the U.S. This reflects a 7.4% increase from 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite this increase, there is still an overall downward trend. The estimated number of Veterans experiencing homelessness has declined by 52% since 2010. Within the last 3 years alone, there has been a 4% reduction overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking deeper at the data from 2023, we see that 20,067 Veterans experienced sheltered homelessness and 15,507 experienced unsheltered homelessness.&nbsp;Unsheltered Veterans&nbsp;represented nearly 80% of the overall increase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veterans who experience sheltered homelessness live in emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, or other supportive settings. Veterans who experience&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/the-negative-health-impacts-of-unsheltered-homelessness\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1196\">unsheltered homelessness<\/a>&nbsp;live in places not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks, abandoned buildings, and literally on the street.<\/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\">VA resources to help homeless and at-risk Veterans<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our wide array of services that help address housing instability and homelessness include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Outreach, engagement, assessment, and referral services.<\/strong>&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/hchv\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"486\">Health Care for Homeless Veterans<\/a>&nbsp;(HCHV) and the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/homeless\/nationalcallcenter.asp\" rel=\"noopener\">National Call Center for Homeless Veterans<\/a>&nbsp;serve as front doors to VA\u2019s homeless programs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Residential services.<\/strong>\u00a0The HCHV Contracted Residential Services and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/grant-per-diem\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"170\">Grant and Per Diem<\/a>\u00a0programs provide temporary emergency and transitional housing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Permanent housing services.<\/strong>\u00a0The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/supportive-services-for-veteran-families\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1378\">Supportive Services for Veteran Families<\/a>\u00a0(SSVF) and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/hud-vash\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"483\">HUD-VA Supportive Housing<\/a>\u00a0(HUD-VASH) programs connect Veterans to affordable housing and provide rental subsidies, case management, and wrap-around supportive services to ensure Veterans have all the resources they need to remain housed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VA also has programs to help Veterans in the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/vjp\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"709\"><strong>criminal justice system<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;access VA services, obtain&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/employment\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"49\"><strong>meaningful employment<\/strong><\/a>, or connect with&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/tag\/hpact\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"31\"><strong>primary care<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>tailored to overcome access barriers faced by Veterans experiencing homelessness.<\/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\">Assistance pathways<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2550\" height=\"3300\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/02\/WHD-Infographic.jpg\" alt=\"An infographic describing ways Veterans connect to VA\" class=\"wp-image-2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/02\/WHD-Infographic.jpg 2550w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/02\/WHD-Infographic.jpg?resize=232,300 232w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/02\/WHD-Infographic.jpg?resize=768,994 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/02\/WHD-Infographic.jpg?resize=791,1024 791w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/02\/WHD-Infographic.jpg?resize=1187,1536 1187w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/02\/WHD-Infographic.jpg?resize=1583,2048 1583w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2550px) 100vw, 2550px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:31px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer wp-container-content-38cd910e\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Contact the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/homeless\/nationalcallcenter.asp\" rel=\"noopener\">National Call Center for Homeless Veterans<\/a>&nbsp;at 1-877-4AID VET (877-424-3838). It is staffed 24\/7 with trained counselors who can talk with you and connect you with your nearest VA for help.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reach out for assistance on the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/productionchat.vrm.vba.va.gov\/system\/templates\/chat\/ncchv\/index.html?entryPointId=1016&amp;templateName=kiwi&amp;languageCode=en&amp;countryCode=US&amp;ver=v11\" rel=\"noopener\">Homeless Veteran Chat<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Find your nearest&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/find-locations\/\" rel=\"noopener\">VA medical center<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/homeless\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Visit our website<\/a>&nbsp;to learn more about the resources available through VA\u2019s homeless programs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"va-body-wrapper wp-block-create-block-body-wrapper\"><div class=\"va-body-wrapper__inner\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group va-section-title va-section-title-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\">Contact VA for help<\/h2>\n\n\n<div style=\"background-color: #005EA2\" class=\"wp-block-create-block-colored-spacer has-ff-5500-background-color has-background\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, we strongly encourage you to contact the <strong>National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at <a href=\"tel:+18774243838\">877-424-3838<\/a><\/strong> for assistance.<br><br>The call is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Trained professionals are standing by to connect you to your nearest VA for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-blue-icon-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/homeless\/nationalcallcenter.asp\" rel=\"noopener\">Chat with a live professional now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/homeless\/nationalcallcenter.asp\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1385\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/08\/NCCHV-Logo-02-Large.png\" alt=\"National Call Center for Homeless Veterans logo. 877-424-3838\" class=\"wp-image-5628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/08\/NCCHV-Logo-02-Large.png 1385w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/08\/NCCHV-Logo-02-Large.png?resize=300,130 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/08\/NCCHV-Logo-02-Large.png?resize=768,333 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/08\/NCCHV-Logo-02-Large.png?resize=1024,444 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1385px) 100vw, 1385px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Each year, on October 10, we commemorate World Homeless Day by drawing attention to the needs of those experiencing homelessness and providing opportunities for the community to help.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":201,"featured_media":2030,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"priority":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[28,17,4,14,8],"class_list":["post-2020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-articles","tag-contract-treatment","tag-grant-and-per-diem","tag-housing","tag-transitional-housing","tag-unsheltered"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/world-homeless-day-2024\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"World Homeless Day 2024","url":"http:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/world-homeless-day-2024\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/world-homeless-day-2024\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/02\/whd.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/02\/whd.jpeg"},"articleSection":"Featured Articles","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Shawn Liu"}],"creator":["Shawn Liu"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"VA Homeless Programs","logo":""},"keywords":["contract treatment","grant and per diem","housing","transitional housing","unsheltered"],"dateCreated":"2024-10-10T08:00:00Z","datePublished":"2024-10-10T08:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-03-20T18:44:32Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"World Homeless Day 2024\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/homeless\\\/world-homeless-day-2024\\\/\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/homeless\\\/world-homeless-day-2024\\\/\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/homeless\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/72\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/whd.jpeg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/homeless\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/72\\\/2026\\\/02\\\/whd.jpeg\"},\"articleSection\":\"Featured Articles\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Shawn Liu\"}],\"creator\":[\"Shawn Liu\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"VA Homeless Programs\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"contract treatment\",\"grant and per diem\",\"housing\",\"transitional housing\",\"unsheltered\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2024-10-10T08:00:00Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-10-10T08:00:00Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-20T18:44:32Z\"}<\/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\/2020","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=2020"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2020\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3767,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2020\/revisions\/3767"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2030"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}