{"id":3748,"date":"2026-03-23T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/?p=3748"},"modified":"2026-03-20T15:08:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T15:08:13","slug":"why-are-veterans-justice-programs-aligned-under-homeless-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/why-are-veterans-justice-programs-aligned-under-homeless-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"Why are Veterans Justice Programs aligned under Homeless Programs?"},"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\">Why are Veterans Justice Programs aligned under Homeless Programs?<\/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 Madolyn Gingell, LCSW, National Coordinator, Legal Services for Veterans, Katie Stewart, LCSW, National Coordinator for Veterans Justice Outreach, and Matthew Stimmel, PhD, National Training Director for Veterans Justice Programs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>March 23, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/category\/featured-articles\/\" rel=\"tag\">Featured Articles<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-post_tag wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/tag\/justice\/\" rel=\"tag\">justice<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/tag\/legal\/\" rel=\"tag\">legal<\/a><\/div>\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\/03\/VJP-HPO.png\" alt=\"A small wooden model house next to a gavel\" class=\"wp-image-3749\" style=\"width:900px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/03\/VJP-HPO.png 1200w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/03\/VJP-HPO.png?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/03\/VJP-HPO.png?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/03\/VJP-HPO.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\">You may have <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/\">noticed from our homepage<\/a> that VA\u2019s Veterans Justice Programs are a part of VA\u2019s Homeless Programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But have you ever wondered why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the surface, justice involvement and homelessness don\u2019t seem like they go together\u2014that they\u2019re two separate topics. However, they\u2019re more connected than you realize.<\/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\"><strong>It\u2019s all about risk factors<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Involvement with the criminal justice system is a strong risk factor for a wide variety of negative outcomes, homelessness first and foremost. Having a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.huduser.gov\/portal\/publications\/pdf\/home_tech\/tchap-08.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">history of incarceration is one of the strongest predictors of future homelessness among men<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/record\/2026-56952-001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Veterans with legal involvement have a six times higher risk of homelessness compared to Veterans without legal involvement.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it\u2019s also about risks for <a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1111\/sltb.12631\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">suicide<\/a>, other forms of early death, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0749379721004104\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">overdose<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At VA, we want to prevent that.<\/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>Meeting Veterans in criminal justice settings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Outreach is the cornerstone of VA\u2019s Veteran Justice Programs (VJP), and for good reason. It&#8217;s not enough to wait for Veterans to raise their hands and seek out services. In many cases, they&#8217;re unable to do that if they are in an incarcerated setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, if we\u2019re going to be successful in reducing their risks of homelessness and suicide, we need to be proactive and go into criminal justice settings. Concretely, our <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/vjp\/vjo\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"652\">Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/vjp\/hcrv\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1516\">Health Care for Re-Entry Specialists<\/a> go into jails and prisons to meet and assess Veterans.<\/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><strong>Connecting Veterans to care<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of course, outreach isn\u2019t an end in itself. The point is to help Veterans in those circumstances access all the services and benefits they have earned and need, especially those related to housing, medical care, mental health and substance use treatment. VJP specialists do just that, assessing Veterans wherever they are in the justice system and linking them to the full spectrum of responsive services VA provides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over the long term, our goal is to reduce the impact of risk factors and boost the protective factors that help guard against some of the most negative outcomes for these Veterans.<\/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\">Access to legal services<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness often face legal issues that make it difficult for them to obtain or maintain stable housing. The Legal Services for Veterans (LSV) Program, a component of VJP, aims to increase access to legal services for eligible Veterans through the award of legal service grant funds and by promoting pro bono medical legal partnerships and VA-affiliated legal clinics through the Veterans Health Administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/legal-services-for-veterans\/\">View more information on the current legal service grantees and pro-bono on-site legal clinics<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\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>You may have noticed from our homepage that VA\u2019s Veterans Justice Programs are a part of VA\u2019s Homeless Programs. But have you ever wondered why? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":201,"featured_media":3749,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"priority":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[25,59],"class_list":["post-3748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-articles","tag-justice","tag-legal"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/why-are-veterans-justice-programs-aligned-under-homeless-programs\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Why are Veterans Justice Programs aligned under Homeless Programs?","url":"http:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/why-are-veterans-justice-programs-aligned-under-homeless-programs\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/why-are-veterans-justice-programs-aligned-under-homeless-programs\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/03\/VJP-HPO.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/03\/VJP-HPO.png"},"articleSection":"Featured Articles","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Shawn Liu"}],"creator":["Shawn Liu"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"VA Homeless Programs","logo":""},"keywords":["justice","legal"],"dateCreated":"2026-03-23T08:00:00Z","datePublished":"2026-03-23T08:00:00Z","dateModified":"2026-03-23T08:00:00Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"Why are Veterans Justice Programs aligned under Homeless Programs?\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/homeless\\\/why-are-veterans-justice-programs-aligned-under-homeless-programs\\\/\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/homeless\\\/why-are-veterans-justice-programs-aligned-under-homeless-programs\\\/\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/homeless\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/72\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/VJP-HPO.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/homeless\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/72\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/VJP-HPO.png\"},\"articleSection\":\"Featured Articles\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Shawn Liu\"}],\"creator\":[\"Shawn Liu\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"VA Homeless Programs\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"justice\",\"legal\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2026-03-23T08:00:00Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-23T08:00:00Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-23T08:00:00Z\"}<\/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\/3748","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=3748"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3748\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3754,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3748\/revisions\/3754"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3749"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}