While significant progress has been made to prevent and end Veteran homelessness, recent data released by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) showed that on a single night in January 2023, there were 35,574 Veterans who experienced homelessness. That figure represents a 7.4% increase in Veteran homelessness since 2022. And although there is still an overall decline in Veteran homelessness—52% since 2010—our work is far from over.
Fortunately, we know what works. Veteran homelessness is solvable, and we have the right tools for the job. But how does VA know what tools are needed to solve Veteran homelessness and when those needs change?
That’s where Project CHALENG comes in.
CHALENGing us to do better
VA’s “Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups” for Veterans, commonly referred to as Project CHALENG, was launched in 1993 with the mission of bringing together providers, advocates, Veterans and other concerned citizens to identify the needs of homeless Veterans and work to meet those needs through planning and cooperative action.
Part of Project CHALENG is the CHALENG survey, where participants rate the needs of homeless Veterans in their local communities. The results of the CHALENG survey are used each year to identify unmet needs and encourage new partnership development to meet those needs.
Read our fact sheet and view the results of the 2022 survey.
Annual feedback leads to new programs and services
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Project CHALENG. Over the last three decades, CHALENG has helped build thousands of relationships between VA and community agencies in order to better serve homeless Veterans on a local level.
The needs that have been uncovered by Project CHALENG have changed over time. In the early years, the top unmet needs focused on emergency, transitional and permanent housing. In more recent years the top unmet needs focus on legal service assistance and discharge upgrades.
Data from CHALENG on Veterans’ unmet needs has assisted VA in developing new services for Veterans.
Some examples of resources that were developed in response to CHALENG survey feedback include:
- Expansion of the HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program, which combines HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance for homeless Veterans with case management and clinical services provided by VA.
- Supportive Services for Veteran Families, which provides homeless prevention and rapid rehousing services.
- Veterans Justice Programs, including new Legal Services for Veterans Programs, which increase access to legal services to eligible Veterans through the award of grant funds and by promoting medical legal partnerships and VA-affiliated legal clinics.
Community organizations use CHALENG data in grant applications to support services for homeless Veterans. Grant applications are for VA, other federal and local government, and foundation dollars, which maximizes community participation in serving homeless Veterans.
Amplifying the voices of Veterans
In recent years, VA has added a Veteran-specific survey to engage Veterans in defining their own needs. Veterans and service providers are usually aligned in identifying the top unmet needs. However, one item identified by service providers that Veterans tend to omit is a need for child care.
Beginning in 2019, CHALENG added a qualitative question asking Veterans to identify the single most important resource to end or prevent their homelessness. These qualitative responses uncovered additional needs not captured in quantitative questions, such as requests for guidance and mentorship, including from other Veterans serving as peers.
Take the CHALENG Survey
If you are a Veteran currently or formerly homeless, a VA or another federal agency employee, a member of state or local government, a community-based homelessness assistance provider or just an invested member of the community, we invite you to take the 2024 CHALENG survey online.
It takes only six minutes.
Take the 2024 Project CHALENG Survey.
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.
- Learn how to get involved with housing homeless Veterans.
For more stories like these, subscribe to the Homeless Programs Office newsletter to receive monthly updates.
Topics in this story
Link Disclaimer
This page includes links to other websites outside our control and jurisdiction. VA is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of non-VA Web sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policy or terms and conditions of those sites to fully understand what information is collected and how it is used.
More Stories
Medical center executives join in keeping Dallas VA clean and welcoming for Veterans.
Fisher House offers complimentary lodging for families navigating the complexities of extended medical care.
Veteran and social worker Gordon Roberts received the Medal of Honor for “Gallantry in Action” in Vietnam.
As an 80 year old 100% disabled veteran living abroad, living solely on my disability compensation, FMP systematically denies me any health care: it’s rules and regulations are elaborately designed to deny deny deny until you die. Department of Defense retired veterans get full health coverage, but as a retired 100% us service connected disaabled veteran, FMP explicitly denies all medical care not exclusively directed at the specific disability. I addition it denies payment of medication regardless of how identical it is to the VA pharmacopia because the VA buys its medicines from US companies who do not sell overseas. Specific medicine given to me by the US VA pharmacy are not sold outside the US. so no reimbursement.
After finding a doctor who reads and writes English and bills in English I wait 6 to 12 months for a check in the mail which is worthless where I live. No FMP does not direct deposit. The VA institutionalized culture of deny deny deny until you die is fully realized by every aspect of the entire FMP system which abandons veterans living abroad especially since the Department of State had defunded and removed all and every service to disabled veterans world wide at its consulates and embassies
The US has abandoned us denied us until we die and this comment id DOA.
I’m a 76 year old Vietnam veteran living in a senior citizen apartment complex. I’m rated 70% disabled for PTSD, and hypothyroidism due to exposure to Agent Orange or a similar defoliant. I’m also a borderline diabetic. I read that if a veteran is imminently in danger of becoming homeless, he or she should call (877) 4AID-VET (877-424-3838). See website: https://www.va.gov/homeless/ . Because of exorbitant rent increases ($300 to $500/month) at my apartment complex, I did a chat with the Veterans Crisis Line. I found that rent increases that a veteran can’t afford are not viable reasons for the VA to step in and provide assistance. It seems to me that the VA takes good care of drug addicts, alcoholics, psychotic veterans, social outcasts, and veterans who have done nothing with their lives, but a veteran who worked hard to build a life and fell on hard times isn’t eligible for assistance. In my case, I worked a full time job for forty years, a part time job for twenty years, and graduated with honors from a prestigious school in the city I live in with an Associate Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Now I find I’ve shouldn’t have done any of these things if I became homeless and wanted the VA to help me.
No veteran should ever be homeless! We need to keep doing better. And monitor closely some of places they are housed! I know of places where drugs are sold, higher crime against those less fortunate, and filthy environment. Stop throwing good money after bad for these programs IF they’re not monitored.