For Veterans experiencing homelessness, recovery goes beyond just securing housing—it also involves restoring meaning and a sense of purpose
When a Veteran loses their home, the world around them often narrows down to a search for the basics, such as a warm bed, a hot meal and a shower. It’s natural to assume a person must be fed and housed before they can even think about their spiritual and emotional well-being. But the reality is often the exact opposite.
For a Veteran experiencing homelessness, spiritual care isn’t a luxury to be addressed after they are housed; it is often the very anchor that helps them hold on during the hardest days of displacement. That is why VA does not treat spiritual health as a separate or competing priority, but instead views recovery as a circle, in which spiritual health is interwoven with every other aspect of care.
Understanding spiritual challenges in displacement
Homelessness often brings about specific spiritual wounds that medicine alone cannot always heal. VA views a Veteran’s journey to stability through a whole health approach and as a process that is interconnected, rather than a linear path.
By focusing on the physical search for a home, it can be easy to overlook the quiet, internal crisis that happens when a Veteran feels they no longer belong to a community. It is a specific kind of isolation—a feeling that their values, their purpose and their spirit have been sidelined while they struggle to survive.
Some of the most common challenges Veterans experiencing homelessness may face include:
- Abandonment: A deep sense of isolation and loneliness that can leave a Veteran feeling forgotten by their country and their community.
- Disconnection from self: A loss of self-identity that occurs when a Veteran is forced to focus solely on survival, causing them to lose sight of their inherent value.
- Value ruptures: A painful disconnect between who the Veteran believes they are and the difficult reality of their current circumstances.
Spiritual care in practice
VA chaplains act as a bridge, helping Veterans restore their sense of connection, meaning and belonging—both within VA care and within their communities. A chaplain contributes to the care a Veteran receives at VA by addressing the spiritual, emotional and moral needs that support healing and resilience.
While a common misconception is that a Veteran has to be religious to seek the support of a VA chaplain, in reality, spirituality is much broader than any single faith. It is the way many of us find meaning, purpose and connection to something larger than ourselves.
Whether a Veteran identifies as religious, spiritual but not religious or simply a person looking for purpose, VA chaplains are trained to meet them where they are. With fewer than 900 chaplains nationwide, these professionals are among a small group of highly specialized clinical providers trained specifically in spiritual care within a health care setting. Their work is informed by evidence-based practices rooted in deep listening and empathy. Their role is not to persuade or convert, but to help Veterans reconcile their self-understanding and find the strength to move forward.
Connecting Veterans to spiritual care
The road to finding stability is a journey of both the body and the spirit. If you are a friend, family member or supporter, you can play a vital role in connecting a Veteran with this care. Many Veterans do not realize that spiritual support is an earned benefit available to every Veteran eligible for VA health care.
If a Veteran you care about is struggling with their sense of worth or feeling abandoned, encourage them to talk to a VA chaplain. VA chaplain services are free, confidential and available regardless of religious belief, with support shaped by each Veteran’s individual needs and circumstances. Reaching out does not require a crisis or a specific belief—it can begin simply with a conversation.
If you’re a Veteran, family member or caregiver interested in meeting with a VA chaplain, please contact your local VA facility.
Learn about VA programs
- If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at risk for homelessness or need to connect with a Veterans justice outreach specialist, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838.
- Learn more about how VA helps Veterans experiencing homelessness with more than just housing services.
- Visit the VA Homeless Programs website to learn about housing initiatives and other programs for Veterans exiting homelessness.
Topics in this story
More Stories
At VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System, improvements in emergency care are leading to better outcomes for Veterans in need of lifesaving care.
You can play an important role in a Veteran's life by helping them with a suicide prevention safety plan.
Given 10 months to live, Gregory Renno survived more than eight years and 100 cancer treatments at Dallas VA, thanks to a clinical trial and dedicated care.
Question: is there a Jewish VA chaplain for my husband on Hospice ? Also looking for one to lead service at military funeral. We live in Belmont, Calif. thanks, Shari
I have been very impressed with the broad width of accommodation to spiritual needs in the VA program. There are some who find themselves in meditation, and knowing that the VA supports this is very encouraging. Not everyone believes in organized religion. Thank your for everything!
As a retired hospital chaplain and disabled veteran, I would love to be able to provide spiritual support to local veterans on a small paid basis or volunteer basis.
What about a VA facility that does not have a irregular assigned chaplain I live in a VA facility. We have a volunteer that comes by occasionally and I myself am trying to lead a Bible study, but I am having much difficulty because of the condition that people are in I need assistance. This facility needs a chaplain please can you help us
What city are you in Charles? Where?
I served 13 years active duty and reserve, am a retired attorney/judge and an ordained minister. I would like to serve as veteran chaplain. Is volunteer work in this area available and if so what is the process.
GOD BLESS AMERICA! KEEP UP WITH THE GREAT WORK! THANK YOU. ?
The Chaplain Support Services at Thomas E. Creek VA hospital in Amarillo, Texas is awesome. They created a PTSD support group program that allows veterans a group environment that allows group support in dealing with PTSD issues from discussing military experiences to dealing with family and personality issues. It has grown immensely since its inception after the VA shut down its previous PTSD support program for non-measurable PTSD performance. We cannot express enough gratitude for Chaplain Services!
Thank you. Being an old Navy Corpsman and 26 yrs. on the street in law enforcement, your words are very revealing and informative. I dealt with the ills of mankind daily and when I retired it was a slow evolution. I decided for myself and my handicapped son to surround myself with kind, thoughtful, loving people on a daily basis. I made my faith and church my rock daily. Focusing on sharing my unspoken positive thoughts. I thank God for his guidence.
My first thought after reading the article is that it is important for the non service public to know and understand the separation and abandonment of those that served so honorablely. They know about homelessment but they don’t know why. I felt the separation and abandonment in the back of my mind when I was discharged. But with the love and support of family and after spending 3 months emerging myself in the Gods country fishing and hunting. Finally with little effort I walked into the door of opportunity not knowing what was on the other side. Serve and protect.
God bless you and keep you.
We would have better spiritual care if we were led by a person that does not Bragg about grabbing women by their crotch and when someone dies does not publicly say good glad he he is dead. Then say he would date his daughter.
You can get help if you are ready and willing.
You know, this isn’t really the place to excrete your political views.
The emails you send out always have good information in them. Keep up the great work.
The VA can utilize (employ) the former Military Chaplains who are Veterans themselves for this endeavor.
There are also many of us who were former Hospice, Hospital, and other Marketplace Chaplains. Please don’t forget us.
I love the mission to support our homeless veterans. Do you think it would be rediculous if it could be expanded to inmates in state and federal prisons? It would be so nice for our Chaplains to visit our forgotten veterans who are currently incarcerated.
Want to join
Dear VA Representative / Veteran Services Coordinator,
My name is Rev. Dr. Olliver Jean Rogers. I am the wife of a veteran who passed away after battling dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Through this personal journey, I gained firsthand experience supporting a loved one through mental health challenges, caregiving, grief, and emotional wellness.
I am also a certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist, ordained minister, and community advocate with lived experience supporting both my husband and my son through mental health and life challenges. My passion is helping veterans, caregivers, families, and individuals who are facing emotional, behavioral, and spiritual struggles.
I am seeking to connect with the VA and veteran support organizations to collaborate, provide peer support, advocacy, outreach, encouragement, and faith-informed community support services for veterans and their families.
I would welcome the opportunity to speak further about ways I may serve and support the veteran community.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Rev. Dr. Olliver Jean Rogers
I was not aware of this and I am going to try it out