New strategies in campaign to end Veteran homelessness

With a new year upon us, we’re looking back at our resolutions from last year (spoiler alert: we aced quite a few of them) and setting some new ones for 2024.

On the December 2023 episode of Ending Veteran Homelessness, guest Monica Diaz, executive director of VA’s Homeless Programs Office, talks about how new Veteran-centric approaches are streamlining our response to Veterans facing homelessness.

Listen to “S1EP20: 2023 Year in Review with Executive Director Monica Diaz” on Spreaker.

Reaching our goals

The biggest news from 2023 is that we hit our main goal of housing 38,000 Veterans two months early. Through the hard work of dedicated staff throughout VA, we also achieved several sub-goals early, engaging with nearly 35,000 unsheltered Veterans and ensuring that 96.2% of Veterans that we previously housed remained in housing.

We are One Team

One new tactic that helped us meet these goals early? The “One Team” approach.

This model of collaboration seeks to break down silos within VA so we can better serve Veterans in need with a more nimble, agile response.

It’s a Veteran-centric approach that calls on all relevant program offices and service providers within VA, as well as external partner organizations to collaborate and find the right combination of services to get each Veteran into a home. Diaz said it was humbling to see everyone working in unison this year to achieve this goal.

We used case conferencing to put people from different levels and programs in the same virtual rooms to brainstorm how to break down barriers. Tuning in to all these calls and hearing the diversity of opinions and experiences, Diaz was struck by how simple but revolutionary the approach ended up being.

Looking ahead

Another priority is continuing to advocate on behalf of Veterans. We lost some funding flexibility when the COVID-19 public health emergency ended, taking away services that we know were beneficial to homeless Veterans, such as rideshares to doctor’s appointments. We’ll continue to pound the pavement to bring back those services and that funding flexibility.

Learn about VA programs 

If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at risk for homelessness, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838).

Visit the VA Homeless Programs website to learn about housing initiatives and other programs for Veterans exiting homelessness. 

Check out the Ending Veteran Homelessness podcast to learn more about what VA is doing about Veteran homelessness. 

Dive in to One Team approach further by listening to this fireside chat with the Greater Los Angeles Health System.

Learn how to get involved with housing homeless Veterans.

Subscribe to the Homeless Programs Office newsletter to receive monthly updates about programs and supportive services for Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness.