How thinking about “the end” helps us build a stronger, more effective homelessness response system
Even if we could instantly provide housing for every homeless Veteran today, we would still face Veteran homelessness tomorrow. Why? Because homelessness is more complex than just providing housing; it intersects with financial troubles, physical and mental health issues, and employment challenges.
Understanding Veteran homelessness and how to end it
To truly end Veteran homelessness, we must not only house today’s homeless Veterans but also support them in overcoming these complex challenges to maintain their housing long-term. Additionally, we must have the capacity to house future homeless Veterans or, ideally, prevent them from becoming homeless in the first place.
Determining the resources needed to end Veteran homelessness
Accurately estimating the resources required involves understanding:
- How many Veterans are currently homeless?
- How many Veterans become homeless each year?
- How many Veterans can be moved out of homelessness each year?
It’s inherently challenging to determine the exact number of homeless Veterans since we need to account for and provide services to individuals without a permanent address or direct means of contact.
The importance of by-name lists
Historically, VA has used the Point-in-Time (PIT) Count to assess the number of homeless Veterans. While helpful, this data takes time to analyze and often doesn’t account for new cases until the next count.
To improve accuracy and timeliness, VA launched Veteran by-name lists in November 2025. These lists are continuously updated and managed by VA and our One Team partners. They provide a real-time, comprehensive view of every homeless Veteran in a community, ensuring no one is overlooked and everyone receives timely assistance.
By-name lists:
- Identify Veterans experiencing homelessness..
- Provide data on trends, such as the time it takes to house a Veteran.
- Highlight resource gaps in specific communities.
- Measure the rate of Veterans exiting and entering homelessness.
Although still a work in progress, these lists will soon help us accurately determine the ongoing need for services and better deploy resources to end Veteran homelessness.
Ongoing support for newly housed Veterans
Exiting homelessness is just the beginning of the journey for many Veterans. Newly housed Veterans often need support to navigate the transition to stable living. VA addresses these needs through case management, health care, treatment and employment assistance to prevent them from returning to homelessness.
True prevention also involves bolstering the social and economic foundations of communities, including housing affordability, fair wages and access to affordable health care—the essential components of a sustainable solution to Veteran homelessness.
VA’s commitment and your role
VA is dedicated to serving our nation’s Veterans, prioritizing resources to help them live fulfilling lives after experiencing homelessness. We aim to provide ongoing support through health care and other services to ensure all Veterans thrive.
Everyone has a role to play:
- Veterans who are homeless or at risk, or those who know someone in need, can contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838.
- Business owners can support by hiring Veterans.
- Property owners can make a life-changing difference by renting to a Veteran in need.
Learn about VA programs
- If you’re a homeless or at-risk Veteran or need to connect with a Veterans Justice Outreach Specialist, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838.
- Visit VA Homeless Programs to learn about housing initiatives and other programs that support Veterans exiting homelessness.
- Find out how VA Homeless Programs provide the stability Veterans need to start their own businesses and contribute back to the community.
- Get involved in efforts to house homeless Veterans.
Together, we can make a meaningful difference and work toward ending Veteran homelessness for good.
Topics in this story
More Stories
Women Veterans enrolled in VA health care now have the option to schedule gynecology appointments without needing a referral from primary care.
MVP researchers are using their skills to make discoveries for Veterans. Here, they share why it’s important for women to be included in medical research.
VA TelePulmonology delivers expert lung care to Veterans at home, helping them save time and allowing them to focus on recovery.
Bien ese proyecto….solo faltaría los recursos…
I never had used the VA even though I’m a survivor of MST. I just got a service connected rating on that. For which I’m asking for a higher review. But I have always taken care of and supported myself and my family. In 2021 I had lost a business due to embezzlement of 358,000, and I had a VA mortgage. So I put my home up for sale so I could pay back the loan. I became homeless and was eventually put up in an apartment that had newly been built for this reason. I had kept my apartment immaculate and it was even used for a model. But my partner had some drug issues and was going through rehab. Here’s the problem because the woman that was in charge of relations between the veterans and management hated my partner and straight out told me you either divorce or lose your apartment. We had been married for 14 years. She did everything possible including not even standing in on out meeting between management and myself. And then I was homeless again and this Veteran Supervisor didn’t even help me to transition from there. I was homeless for another 11 months. I’m hopeful that I will be able to secure another place soon. I’m living with family now.
unfortunatley most homeless veterans dont recieve a high enough disability rating to get enough money to afford to get a place to live or even the mental health help or even know were to go to get this help they need . it is dispicable when illegals get more help then our war fighters our VA system is severely broken and makes it severily difficult to get approval ratings. i am a disabled combat veteran of OIF 1 2003 3rd Infantry division 1/30th Mech Infantry that saw and experienced wars brutality and what war can to to you mentally and physically. i have been fighting for what i EARNED sine 2007 and still not recieved what i earned with blood ,sweat , tbi, tera,and metal scareing from what i was ORDERED to do. I KNOW THIS MESSAGE WILL FALL ON DEAF EARS AND I WILL GET NO RESPONCE NOR WILL THIS EVEN THE PLAYING FEILD FOR MY FALLEN BROTHERS AND WAR FIGHTING BROTHERS. its is a shame our government dosent get a damn about those who gave all and payed the ultimate price for others FREEDOM