VA Plans to Address Veteran Homelessness Amid Continued Pandemic Strain

WILMINGTON, Del. – The Covid pandemic has highlighted a need for veteran housing in America.
According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress found that on a single night in January 2020, there were 37,252 Veterans experiencing homelessness in America. 
According to a release, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and HUD are committed in its partnership in a mission of ending veteran homelessness by: 
• Make ending Veteran homelessness a top priority 
• Lead with an evidence-based housing first approach 
• Reach underserved veterans 
• Ensure the delivery of quality supportive services 
• Increase the supply of and access to affordable housing 
Increase the Supply of and Access to Affordable Housing 
There is a low inventory of available housing for at-risk veterans in our area, and landlords are not accepting HUD-VASH (VA Supportive Housing) Program vouchers at previous rates. This is leading to a housing and health crisis for vulnerable veterans. 
“Housing is an essential part of health care. Reliable housing leads to an increase in access to health care services,” stated Vince Kane, director, Wilmington VA Medical Center. “When veterans have stable housing, we can more easily connect with them and ensure they are receiving the health care services they need. Our goal is to work with private landlords to educate and encourage them to accept HUDVASH vouchers to house our nation’s veterans. Together, we can end veteran homelessness.” 
As part of this education effort, Wilmington VA Medical Center will be holding a virtual landlord resource fair in the coming months.