A coordinated response to support aging homeless Veterans
In fiscal year 2024, almost half of all Veterans enrolled in VA healthcare were 65 or older. By fiscal year 2035, the number of Veterans aged 85 and older is expected to increase by 66%. Within this broader population, a growing subset of aging Veterans is experiencing or facing homelessness—some for the first time in their lives—due to factors like rising housing costs, complex medical needs, income loss or lack of family support.
With the number of aging and disabled homeless Veterans expected to increase, VA launched the Homeless Aging and Disabled Veterans Initiative to bring together housing assistance, healthcare and supportive services through the Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) and Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) programs. The initiative helps connect older, homeless and disabled Veterans with complex health needs to stable housing, case management, community based care and services that support long-term health, independence and quality of life.
Providing tailored care for aging Veterans at risk of homelessness
For older Veterans, housing instability can compound the challenges of aging. Without stable housing, it becomes harder to manage chronic conditions, keep medical appointments, store medications safely, prepare meals or access transportation and in-home support.
Homelessness can also make age-related needs more complex. Veterans who rely on oxygen equipment, assistive devices, personal care support or specialized services may require more coordinated care than traditional shelters, short-term housing and standard physical settings can provide.
The Homeless Aging and Disabled Veterans Initiative addresses these challenges by aligning housing, health care and supportive services around four key strategies:
- Increasing access to GEC
- Developing housing options that support the use of HUD-VASH vouchers in specialized programs
- Expanding HUD-VASH project-based vouchers with intensive onsite services
- Proactively building partnerships with community agencies
Expanding housing and care for aging Veterans
Since launching the initiative, VA has expanded specialized housing models that allow Veterans to use HUD-VASH vouchers in assisted living facilities, community residential care settings and medical foster homes designed for aging adults.
Building on that foundation, VA has also increased the use of project-based HUD-VASH vouchers, which bring services—like case management, care coordination, wellness checks and connections to healthcare and community services—directly to where Veterans live.
The initiative has also strengthened partnerships between homeless programs and geriatric care specialists across Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs) nationwide. This includes 10 regional geriatrics specialists helping to expand aging-focused support across the country and 30 enhanced project-based voucher sites providing onsite services for aging and disabled Veterans.
Internally, the initiative has helped VA teams better understand and respond to aging-related care needs and work together in a more coordinated way. Housing teams, healthcare providers and aging services specialists have more opportunities to share information, ask questions and collaborate across programs.
As a result, VA staff can identify needs earlier and connect Veterans more quickly to services such as home-based primary care, rehabilitation, occupational therapy, durable medical equipment, caregiver support and other resources that help them remain safely housed.
Expanding the initiative nationwide
As of April 2026, the Homeless Aging and Disabled Veterans Initiative was supporting 159 Veterans in specialized housing settings, the majority living in assisted living facilities or personal care homes. Across 15 VISNs, Project-Based Voucher Early Entry sites now provide approximately 1,600 housing units designated for aging and disabled Veterans.
Recognizing the need for specialized interim housing settings, two Grant and Per Diem (GPD) models now offer more focused support for this population. The “hospital-to-housing” model helps Veterans experiencing homelessness move directly from inpatient care settings and emergency departments into transitional housing with supportive care. The Special Need Frail Elderly model is designed to support older Veterans who need additional assistance, providing services that address not just physical health, but also emotional, social, spiritual and generative well-being.
These efforts demonstrate what is possible when housing and supportive services are designed around the unique needs of aging and disabled Veterans. While this progress is encouraging, more work remains. Many enhanced services and interventions currently exist in pockets across the country. As VA works to expand these efforts, the focus remains on making it easier for aging and disabled Veterans to find the right housing, receive the right level of care and stay connected to support over time.
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 to learn about housing initiatives and other programs for Veterans exiting homelessness.
- Find out how you can get involved in housing homeless Veterans.
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I AM 91, AVET AND UNABLE TO LOG INTO ID ME .GOV. THE OPTIONS THY GIVE ME ARE IMPOSSIBLE! I HAD IY ONCE A COUPLE OF EARS AGO BUT NOW IT WILL NOT ALLOW ME ACCESS AND I CANNOT ACCESS MY VA ACCOUNT. I TRIED AT THE LOCAL OFFICE AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. NOW WHAT? OR SHOULD I JUST GO AWAY.
Greetings:
I’m interested in part time volunteering. Treated for PTSD and other conditions. Due to my unarmed son. Who was murderd October 23, 2014. By deputy sheriff. PTSD has increased. Grief therapist has recommended that I involve myself in an auxiliary or part time volunteering. I’ve reached out to several people. As of this day. No one has responded to my request.
I think the VA is trying but what is the number of homeless compared to those being helped? The articles say 150 and 1500 being served. That seems like a very low number of people being helped. I think they should look at a system like PACE harbor health in Boston area. What about the spouses of these veterans?
Hello, I work at a homeless intake center for veterans (as well as non-vets) and we have a housing program for them, but we don’t see that many veterans because maybe they don’t know about us. The company is called “The Hole in Wall Inc.” and I am the Veteran Liaison for this company and am also a Marine Corps Veteran. I would like to share my strength, hope, and courage with my fellow Veterans. We are located about 30 minutes away from the Loma Linda VA clinic/ACC, in Moreno Valley and also, we are looking for grants and donations in order to expand the program into a wellness center where those who are interested can find a way to get back on their feet and move to the next frontier of their lives successfully. If you would like, you can stop by at [24187 Postal Ave., Moreno Valley, CA 9255] on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays so that I may speak with you in person.
The Owner of this nonprofit is a Vietnam War Veteran and we would like to see if there is anything we can do to help.
Good deal, let’s hope the government agree to it.
Many “Tiny Homes” less than 400 square feet and other specific size restrictions are licensed as “Trailers” in California. These can be placed in back yards or in RV Parks and sold to Veterans. can they be financed as homes or RVs?
This is definitely a very important message for all of us (especially homeless & elderly)
ITS STILLLL CRAP! Im 65 now with cancer,$61,000 in BILLS,,Still not in a brick house!!
Have you considered expanding options to housing homeless veterans who are not dangerous in the homes of other veterans? For instance, I have a spare room. If someone needed a home and was not a danger to my family, I would share. I have done it before, but unofficially. It would be cool if the VA covered some of the costs though.
Please pass on the names and connecting Phone Numbers and emails of those responsible for initiating this wonderful program. I would like to use it as a guiding structure for developing a different veterans assistance program.
Please pass this on to liters in initiated this program.
Thank you
I would love to see the VA expand its home loan programs to include RVs. Veterans don’t all fit into the traditional “sticks-and-bricks” model of homeownership, and many choose RV living because it is more affordable, flexible, and better suited to their circumstances.
Providing a VA-backed loan option for RVs could create an additional pathway to stable housing, especially for low-income veterans and those experiencing homelessness. Veterans deserve housing benefits that support the many ways they choose to live and call home.
The VA is very concerned about homeless veterans, and keeps opening new programs. By actively opening up new programs and expanding some of the older programs more funds are used. A less costly effort is to raise pensions to a livable way. The low-income, survivors and dependents should receive an adjusted monthly income to calibrate to at least $20,000.00 annually. Disabled veterans might be more different for the cause of disabled but still necessary. If the money from some of the funds were redirected to the INDIVIDUALS on the pension monthly steady stream is more cost effective. WORK WITH YOUR A.I. Assistant and see the positive data and spending is less costly. Once the homeless and the risk of homeless get an adjustment realistic basic living raise, they will be prone to improve and once that party reaches a livable income: self-esteem, independence it can be used for someone else. The low-income federal guidelines are not established for this.
$20000 per year is not a realistic total annual income to cover housing, food, transport, clothing, etc. in my area, which is cheaper than many. Also, I’m not totally bought in on the survivors thing. This initiative is about older (living) veterans. Let’s cover them first and leave dealing with those who claim to be non-veteran survivors for another initiative.
I was on verge of no place to move mainly due to affordability and got told there is no help for me because I’m not yet on the street. I’m 78 and I found over 55 living with I waitlist but way out of my affordability leaving me with about $200 to get groceries, get rx etc . I was very frustrated to say the least
I would love to see the VA expand its home loan programs to include RVs. Veterans don’t all fit into the traditional “sticks-and-bricks” model of homeownership, and many choose RV living because it is more affordable, flexible, and better suited to their circumstances.
Providing a VA-backed loan option for RVs could create an additional pathway to stable housing, especially for low-income veterans and those experiencing homelessness. Veterans deserve housing benefits that support the many ways they choose to live and call home.