Nonprofits making progress in tackling homelessness among veterans, but challenges remain

ATLANTA (AP) — Government agencies and nonprofits around the country have long been working to reduce the numbers of homeless veterans.

And they’ve had notable success.

According to a government count, the numbers of homeless veterans have gone down 55% over the past 13 years. But there are still more than 33,000 homeless veterans in the U.S. Kathryn Monet is the CEO of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. Monet says that just as people are moving out of homelessness, others are becoming unhoused every day. In order to fix the issue, Monet says there needs to be both an adequate supply of affordable housing and strong partnerships between local organizations and officials to help at-risk populations.

Last month, the VA gave $1 billion in grants to community nonprofits for the upcoming year to tackle the issue, the most ever, said Jill Albanese, director of clinical operations at the Veterans Health Administration’s Homeless Programs Office.  Still, the number of veterans living on the streets is significant. There are more than 33,000 homeless veterans, according to the 2022 Point-in-Time count conducted by the VA and Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

And much still needs to be done.

PHOTO INFO: Veterans Empowerment Organization CEO Tony Kimbrough points at design plans for a two-story building that will house 20 formerly homeless veterans, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023 in Atlanta. The Atlanta-based nonprofit houses dozens of veterans and helps put them on a path toward employment and housing independence. (AP Photo/R.J. Rico)

Source: AP – All contents copyright 2023 Associated Press.  All rights reserved.