Homeless Veterans
Introduction
Veterans who have experienced homelessness are at increased risk for suicide. The suicide rate for Veterans who accessed VA health care and have signs of homelessness is higher than for those without signs of homelessness. The suicide rate among this group increased 38.2% from 2020 to 2021.
What Action Has VA Taken?
In addition to clinical interventions for suicide prevention, VA is advancing non-clinical actions for Veterans at risk of suicide and homelessness through financial, occupational, legal, and social supports.
The Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grants Program (SSG Fox SPGP)
This program awarded $52.5 million in community-based grants. In 2023, these grants reached more than 16,000 Veterans and included more than 6,000 connections to employment, financial, legal and clinical support services to reduce suicide risk and prevent Veteran homelessness.
Identifying Suicidal Risk Among Veterans Experiencing Homelessness
VA is improving methods to identify suicide risk in homeless populations. In 2023, VA also launched Homeless Safety Planning in emergency departments. Veterans experiencing homelessness are more likely to obtain care in emergency departments and assessing suicide risk at the time of visit may improve the likelihood of early identification of suicide risk and connections to care.
Providing Housing
As of September 2023, VA has permanently housed 35,148 Veterans, on pace to exceed its goal of housing 38,000 homeless Veterans in 2023. These goals build upon VA's success in housing more than 40,000 homeless Veterans in 2022. Additionally, VA awarded more than $1 billion in grants for operations starting this year to help Veterans who are experiencing homelessness and at-risk of homelessness through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families and Homeless Program's Grant and Per Diem Program.
What's Next?
Legal Service Grants
New Legal Services for Homeless Veterans and Veterans At-Risk For Homelessness Grants (LSV-H) enables VA to deliver civil legal services that support access to government benefits, navigating family law, ensuring access to safe housing options, and assistance with management of debt.
Improving Procedures and Identification of Risk
VA Suicide Prevention is moving forward with the Co-Occurring Homelessness and Suicide Risk Clinical Processes Project. This will fine-tune methods and procedures to screen and identify homelessness in Veterans at risk for suicide.
National Veterans Financial Resource Center (FINVET)
Veterans empowered to take charge of their financial wellbeing build strength against financial stressors that may contribute to suicide. VA is preparing to launch FINVET, a new website that connects Veterans to financial tools and resources to help Veterans meet basic needs; manage money; increase income; lower debt and bills; and protect money.
Resources
If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at risk of homelessness, please 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 you right now and connect you with your nearest VA for assistance. You can also visit your local VA medical center and connect with a homeless coordinator. Use the VA locator tool find the nearest resource point of contact.
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