Homeless Veterans Programs

Veterans are disproportionately represented among the homeless population — accounting for approximately 9% of homeless adults while comprising only 6% of the U.S. adult population — driven by factors including untreated PTSD, traumatic brain injury, substance use disorders, and difficulty transitioning from military to civilian life. The Department of Veterans Affairs administers the most comprehensive homeless veteran assistance system in the country, funded at approximately $2.5 billion/year and anchored by the HUD-VASH program (HUD-VA Supportive Housing): a collaboration between HUD and VA that combines HUD Section 8 housing vouchers with VA case management services for homeless veterans, currently serving approximately 100,000 veterans. The legal authority for VA homeless programs spans 38 U.S.C. §§ 2011–2044, covering Grant and Per Diem (GPD) transitional housing programs, Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) rapid rehousing and prevention grants, Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV), and the Veterans Justice Outreach program connecting incarcerated veterans with VA services. Through a coordinated initiative launched in 2010, veteran homelessness declined by approximately 55% between 2010 and 2022 — one of the most significant reductions in homelessness for any specific population in U.S. history — before experiencing a modest uptick in 2022-2023 alongside the broader national homelessness increase. First Lady and presidential initiatives have repeatedly made ending veteran homelessness a stated priority, with communities in dozens of cities formally declaring "functional zero" veteran homelessness under HUD's defined criteria.

Current Law (2026)

Legal Authority

• 38 U.S.C. § 2011 — Grants (VA provides grants to public or nonprofit organizations to furnish services to homeless veterans, including outreach, rehabilitative services, vocational counseling, and transitional housing)
• 38 U.S.C. § 2012 — Per diem payments (VA provides per diem payments to organizations receiving grants under § 2011 for each homeless veteran housed and served)
• 38 U.S.C. § 2013 — Housing retention program (VA provides grants to improve retention of permanent housing by formerly homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness)
• 38 U.S.C. § 2021 — Homeless veterans reintegration programs (DOL grants to organizations providing job training, counseling, and placement services to homeless veterans; Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program — HVRP)
• 38 U.S.C. § 2022 — Coordination of outreach services (VA coordinates outreach to veterans at risk of homelessness with other federal, state, and community agencies)
• 38 U.S.C. § 2023 — Referral and counseling for transitioning veterans at risk (VA provides referral and counseling for veterans leaving incarceration, long-term care, or other institutions who are at risk of homelessness)
• 38 U.S.C. § 2031 — General treatment (VA provides domiciliary care, medical, and rehabilitative treatment to homeless veterans with healthcare needs)
• 38 U.S.C. § 2041 — Housing assistance (VA provides per diem payments to public/nonprofit entities providing housing to homeless veterans; transitional housing; safe haven programs for hard-to-reach homeless veterans with severe mental illness)
• 38 U.S.C. § 2043 — Domiciliary care programs (VA provides domiciliary care programs for homeless veterans, including therapeutic residential rehabilitation)
• 38 U.S.C. § 2032 — Therapeutic housing (authorizes VA to provide therapeutic housing for homeless veterans with mental health or substance abuse disorders; structured residential settings with integrated treatment programs)
• 38 U.S.C. § 2042 — Supported housing for compensated work therapy participants (authorizes VA to provide housing support for homeless veterans enrolled in compensated work therapy programs; links housing stability with therapeutic employment)
• 38 U.S.C. § 2044 — Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) (VA provides grants to nonprofit organizations for supportive services to very low-income veteran families in permanent housing or who are homeless; rapid re-housing, prevention, case management)

How It Works

The federal government has made ending veteran homelessness a national priority, complementing broader homeless assistance programs, deploying a comprehensive array of VA and HUD programs that combine housing, healthcare, employment, and supportive services.

The VA homeless system operates through several interlocking programs authorized under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 20. The flagship is HUD-VASH — a collaboration between HUD and VA in which HUD provides permanent Housing Choice Vouchers specifically for homeless veterans while VA provides case management and clinical services; veterans pay 30% of income toward rent and are matched with a VA case manager delivering mental health treatment, substance abuse counseling, and benefits assistance. Since 2008, HUD has allocated approximately 110,000 HUD-VASH vouchers, and the program is credited as the single largest driver of the 55% decline in veteran homelessness from 2010 to 2024. SSVF (Supportive Services for Veteran Families) under 38 U.S.C. § 2044 operates as the rapid-response complement — $500 million annually in competitive grants to approximately 300 community nonprofit organizations providing case management, temporary financial assistance (rent, utilities, deposits, moving costs), and connections to mainstream benefits for very low-income veteran families facing homelessness or at imminent risk of it. GPD (Grant and Per Diem) programs under 38 U.S.C. §§ 2011–2013 provide grants for construction or renovation of transitional housing and per diem payments to community organizations, supporting up to 24 months of transitional housing with mental health treatment, substance abuse recovery, and job training — about $250 million annually serving approximately 40,000 veterans through 600 community-based programs.

HCHV (Health Care for Homeless Veterans) programs at VA medical centers provide outreach to shelters and streets, primary care, mental health, substance abuse treatment, and referrals to housing programs; VA community-based outpatient clinics in high-homeless-population areas provide walk-in access. Employment programming — including the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) administered by DOL, VA's Compensated Work Therapy programs, and Individual Placement and Support (IPS) supported employment — addresses the income gap that keeps formerly homeless veterans from sustaining housing. The strategy has increasingly shifted toward prevention: SSVF prevention services target veterans at imminent risk of losing housing by providing emergency rental assistance, landlord mediation, and rapid connections to benefits before homelessness occurs. VA's Coordinated Entry approach ensures the most vulnerable veterans are prioritized across all programs rather than served on a first-come basis.

How It Affects You

If you're a veteran experiencing homelessness right now: Call 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838) — the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans operates 24/7. The intake team will assess your immediate needs and connect you to the nearest VA medical center's homeless veteran program. You can also walk into any VA medical center emergency department or homeless outreach program. Discharge status is not an automatic barrier — many VA homeless programs serve veterans with Other Than Honorable discharges, particularly those with mental health or substance use conditions connected to service. Within 90 days of initial contact, VA aims to connect you with housing placement, case management, and healthcare enrollment.

If you're eligible for HUD-VASH (permanent housing with VA support): A HUD-VASH voucher works like a Section 8 voucher — you pay 30% of your income toward rent, and the voucher covers the rest up to local fair market rates. A VA case manager stays with you after placement, helping maintain housing stability, access mental health or substance abuse treatment, and connect to benefits like VA disability compensation or VA Pension. Priority for HUD-VASH goes to the most vulnerable homeless veterans — chronically homeless, serious mental illness, high medical need. Wait lists exist in many cities, so enrollment in VA care while waiting is essential to maintain your place in the queue.

If your veteran household is at risk of losing housing within the next 30 days: SSVF (Supportive Services for Veteran Families) can provide rapid financial assistance — covering overdue rent, utility shutoffs, security deposits, and moving costs — through community nonprofit organizations. The amount varies by program and need but can cover several months of arrears in urgent cases. To access SSVF, you must meet income limits (very low-income, typically 50% or below area median income) and be in permanent housing or have a specific housing plan. Find your local SSVF provider through VA.gov or by calling 877-4AID-VET. SSVF can also connect you to mainstream benefits like SNAP, Medicaid, and SSI that you may not be receiving.

If you're a veteran exiting incarceration: VA's Veterans Justice Outreach program operates in jails and prisons in most jurisdictions. Request a VA contact through prison case managers or contact a VSO to ensure you have VA healthcare enrollment, housing referrals, and benefits claims active before release. Discharge into homelessness after incarceration is extremely common — SSVF prevention services are specifically designed for this transition and can begin intake while you're still incarcerated. Getting enrolled in VA healthcare before release protects your eligibility date.

If you're a family member trying to help a homeless veteran: VA cannot share information about a veteran's treatment or location without consent, but you can call 877-4AID-VET to ask about resources and how to support an outreach. In crisis situations, crisis lines can coordinate with VA. VA homeless programs can also help with reunification — connecting the veteran with family support as part of housing stabilization.

State Variations

• Federal VA homeless programs apply uniformly nationwide, but local program availability varies by VA medical center and community
• Some states have their own veteran homelessness programs that supplement federal funding
• State housing trust funds and homelessness prevention programs may prioritize veterans
• HUD-VASH voucher allocation varies by community based on need and PHA capacity
• Local Continuum of Care planning includes veteran-specific strategies and coordination with VA

Implementing Regulations

• 38 CFR Part 61 — VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program: the regulatory framework for the grants and per diem payments VA provides to community organizations that build and operate transitional housing for homeless veterans (authorized under 38 U.S.C. § 2011):

  • §§ 61.10–61.19 — Capital grants: VA provides grants for construction, renovation, or purchase of supportive housing or service centers; the grant ceiling is 65% of total project cost (§ 61.16), with the grantee providing 35% matching funds; eligible facilities include transitional housing, service centers, vans for outreach, and supportive housing for veterans with special needs; VA issues Notices of Fund Availability and rates applications on community need, organizational capacity, and project readiness
  • §§ 61.30–61.33 — Per diem payments: VA pays per diem for each bed day of care provided to a homeless veteran in a GPD-funded facility; the per diem rate is set annually and is intended to offset operating costs (staffing, utilities, food, case management) without fully replacing earned resident contributions; capital grant recipients may apply for per diem to sustain operations after construction
  • §§ 61.40–61.44 — Special need grants: VA provides special need grants for programs serving homeless veterans with particularly difficult-to-address needs — chronic mental illness, substance use disorders, women veterans with children, or Native American veterans; special need grantees may receive both a grant and special need per diem (at a higher rate than standard GPD per diem)
  • §§ 61.50–61.55 — Technical assistance grants: VA funds entities to deliver technical assistance to existing and prospective GPD grantees, helping smaller community organizations build the capacity to apply for and operate GPD programs; TA grantees submit quarterly reports documenting assistance provided
  • §§ 61.80–61.82 — Operation requirements: GPD facilities must provide outreach, structured rehabilitative services, and referrals to permanent housing; facilities may charge participants a means-tested fee toward their stay (based on income), but fees cannot jeopardize a veteran's ability to save toward permanent housing
  • §§ 61.90–61.98 — Case management services grants: VA provides dedicated grants to nonprofits for case management services helping homeless veterans navigate VA benefits, mainstream programs, and housing placement — distinct from per diem operational funding

• 38 CFR Part 62 — Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF): the regulatory framework for SSVF grants — VA's rapid rehousing and homelessness prevention program (~$500M/year) serving very low-income veteran families (income ≤ 50% of area median income):

  • § 62.11 — Target population: a veteran family is eligible if the veteran is occupying permanent housing and is at imminent risk of losing it, or is literally homeless (living in emergency shelter, transitional housing, or place not designed for human habitation) with a specific plan for permanent housing
  • § 62.31 — Case management (required service): grantees must provide housing-first case management prioritizing rapid placement in permanent housing over therapeutic prerequisites; case managers connect participants to VA healthcare, disability compensation, pension, vocational rehabilitation, and community mental health services
  • § 62.32 — VA benefits assistance (required): grantees must actively assist participants in applying for VA disability compensation, VA pension, HUD-VASH vouchers, and other VA entitlements — SSVF's impact depends partly on getting veterans into benefits that sustain housing long-term
  • § 62.33 — Other public benefits assistance (required): grantees must help participants obtain SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, TANF, and other mainstream public benefits that are frequently underutilized by veteran households
  • § 62.35 — Service limitations: extremely low-income veteran families (≤ 30% AMI) may receive SSVF temporary financial assistance for up to 4 months in any 3-year period; at-risk families (30–50% AMI) may receive up to 3 months; grantees may request an extension from VA for exceptional circumstances
  • § 62.37 — Fee prohibition: grantees are explicitly prohibited from charging any fee to veteran families for SSVF services — the program must be entirely free to participants
  • § 62.38 — Ineligible activities: SSVF funds may not be used for construction, major rehabilitation, mortgage assistance, vehicle purchase, or cash assistance to participants beyond specified temporary financial assistance categories

• 38 CFR Part 78 — Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP): VA's community grant program to fund nonprofit organizations, community groups, and public entities that provide direct suicide prevention services to veterans at risk of suicide — authorized by Public Law 116-171 (Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe Veterans' Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020). The program fills a gap that VA's clinical system cannot reach: veterans who aren't engaged with VA health care but who are at elevated suicide risk in the community:

  • § 78.10 — Eligible individuals: any person at risk of suicide as defined under Pub. L. 116-171; eligibility is not limited to veterans enrolled in VA health care or even to veterans currently experiencing homelessness — the program reaches any veteran assessed to be at risk in a community context
  • § 78.25 — Scoring criteria: VA evaluates applicants on background and qualifications of the organization; previous experience serving veterans; capacity to serve the proposed population; quality of the proposed suicide prevention services plan; and outreach strategy targeting veterans who are not connected to VA
  • § 78.50 — Baseline mental health screening (required): grantees must provide or coordinate a baseline mental health screening for every participant using a validated tool that assesses suicide risk and mental and behavioral health conditions; information from the screening must guide service planning and cannot be used to deny service
  • § 78.60 — Clinical services for emergency treatment: grantees may provide or coordinate clinical emergency services for any participant in acute suicidal crisis; if VA or another entity pays for these services, the grantee may not double-bill
  • § 78.70 — Peer support services: grantees providing peer support must use veterans trained in peer support with similar experiences to the participants; peer supporters connect at-risk veterans to available community and VA resources — a proven engagement strategy for veterans reluctant to seek professional mental health care
  • § 78.80 — Public benefits coordination: grantees must help participants obtain and coordinate a minimum set of public benefits including VA healthcare, VA disability compensation, VA pension, Medicaid, Medicare, SSI, SSVF (homelessness prevention), and other mainstream benefits; connection to VA health care is a primary goal since clinical mental health treatment is the most effective suicide prevention tool
  • § 78.90 — Other services (financial assistance cap): grantees may pay third parties (not participants directly) up to $750 per participant per year for housing costs, transportation, basic needs, and other expenses that support participation in the suicide prevention program; this limited emergency financial assistance prevents disruptions that can escalate crisis
  • § 78.120 — Grant ceiling: maximum award is $750,000 per grantee per fiscal year; payment amounts and timing are specified in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) published on grants.gov
  • § 78.100 — Fee prohibition: grantees may not charge any fee to participants for services funded by SSG Fox SPGP grants — services must be entirely free to at-risk veterans

  The SSG Fox program represents VA's recognition that veteran suicide cannot be solved solely through VA health care delivery — roughly 70% of veterans who died by suicide in recent years were not regularly receiving VA health care. Community grantees serve as the bridge: identifying at-risk veterans through veteran service organizations, community mental health organizations, faith communities, and informal peer networks, and connecting them to services before a crisis becomes fatal. Recent rulemakings: 87 FR 13835 (March 2022) — final rule establishing the program; 89 FR 62663 (August 2024) — amended eligibility and scoring provisions.

• 38 CFR Part 79 — Legal Services for Homeless Veterans and Veterans At-Risk for Homelessness Grant Program (VA, 24 sections): VA grants to public or nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at imminent risk of homelessness — authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 2022 as added by the PACT Act of 2022. Legal problems are frequently the immediate trigger for veteran homelessness (eviction, divorce, criminal record barriers to employment), and this program connects those veterans with free legal representation:

  • § 79.15 — Eligible veterans: any homeless veteran or veteran "at risk for homelessness" (lacking sufficient resources or support networks to maintain housing, with evidence of one or more homeless risk factors); eligibility is not limited to veterans receiving other VA services
  • § 79.20 — Allowable legal services: (a) housing law — eviction defense, representation in landlord-tenant disputes, and foreclosure defense; (b) family law — divorce, child custody, domestic violence protective orders; (c) consumer debt and financial matters — debt collection, garnishment, bankruptcy that directly affects housing stability; (d) VA benefits — assistance with VA compensation, pension, and healthcare claims; (e) employment — wrongful termination, wage theft, disability accommodation disputes; (f) expungement and criminal record clearing — clearing convictions or charges that bar employment or housing; these are the precise legal matters that, unresolved, most directly cause veteran homelessness
  • § 79.25 — Application requirements: applicants must describe their proposed service area, estimate the number of veterans they will serve, demonstrate organizational capacity and legal expertise, and show how they will coordinate with other homeless veteran programs (SSVF, GPD, HUD-VASH) to ensure veterans get legal services alongside housing and case management
  • § 79.100 — Recordkeeping: grantees must maintain records for at least 3 years documenting compliance; VA may audit records on request
  • § 79.105 — Technical assistance: VA will provide technical assistance directly or through contractors to help grantees meet program requirements

  Part 79 fills a persistent gap in homeless veteran services: housing, mental health, and substance abuse programs existed, but veterans still lost housing because of untreated eviction judgments, pending divorces affecting housing eligibility, or criminal records blocking rental applications. Legal aid organizations that partner with VA homeless programs under Part 79 can resolve these "legal barriers to stability" while the housing team addresses the physical placement. Recent rulemakings: 87 FR 33041 (June 2022) — interim final rule establishing the program; 89 FR 89501 (November 2024) — final rule with revised eligibility and allowable services.

• 38 CFR Part 80 — Veteran and Spouse Transitional Assistance Grant Program (17 sections, implementing 38 U.S.C. § 501): VA grants to eligible organizations — nonprofits, community-based organizations, and public entities — to provide transitional assistance services to veterans and their spouses as they navigate major life transitions, including separation from military service, job displacement, family disruption, and reintegration challenges. The VSTAGP is a smaller, more specialized program than GPD (transitional housing) or SSVF (rapid rehousing), targeting the transitional support needs of veterans and their spouses who are not necessarily homeless but face significant adjustment barriers:

  • § 80.1 — Purpose: VA provides grants under this part to eligible organizations to provide transitional assistance services to veterans and their spouses; "transitional assistance" encompasses financial counseling, employment readiness, life skills development, and coordination with VA benefits and community resources — the program acknowledges that spouses bear significant transition burdens alongside veterans, particularly when a spouse's career was disrupted by military service
  • § 80.10 — Grant agreement: VA drafts a VSTAGP grant agreement executed by VA and the grantee; the agreement specifies services to be provided, reporting requirements, payment schedule, performance standards, and conditions for amendment or termination; subgrantees (if the grantee passes funds to partner organizations) must also be bound by the same terms
  • § 80.11 — Payments: grantees are paid in accordance with the timeframes and manner set forth in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO); federal financial assistance becomes available after the effective date of the grant agreement; VA may withhold or reduce payments based on non-performance or non-compliance
  • § 80.12 — Reporting requirements: all grantees must submit quarterly reports to VA within 30 days after the last day of each quarter based on the federal fiscal year; quarterly reporting allows VA to monitor service delivery, identify problems early, and redirect technical assistance to struggling grantees before annual performance assessments
  • § 80.13 — Termination and fund recovery: VA may terminate a grant agreement with a grantee that does not comply with the terms of the VSTAGP agreement; VA may recover from the grantee any funds expended for non-allowable purposes or in violation of grant terms; the termination and recovery provisions parallel VA's standard grant enforcement framework across other VA community grant programs

  The VSTAGP recognizes that military-to-civilian transition is not only a veteran issue — spouses who followed service members through multiple relocations, career interruptions, and geographic moves often face their own reintegration challenges when service ends. Unlike the TAP (Transition Assistance Program) administered by DOD (which focuses on the service member in the months before separation), the VSTAGP operates post-separation through community organizations rather than military installation resources, reaching veterans and spouses after they have left the military structure entirely.

• 24 CFR Part 576 — HUD Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) (homelessness prevention, rapid re-housing, shelter operations)

• 24 CFR Part 578 — HUD Continuum of Care Program (permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, coordinated entry)

Pending Legislation

• HR 5997 — Helping Homeless Veterans Act of 2025: $420M/year for supportive services for very low-income veteran families. Status: In Committee.
• HR 7049 — Improving Mental Health Care and Coordination for Homeless Veterans Act. Status: In Committee.
• HR 7047 — Health Care for Homeless Veterans Act: permanently authorizes VA homeless-veteran programs. Status: In Committee.

Recent Developments

• Veteran homelessness has declined ~55% since 2010, from ~74,000 to ~33,000 on any given night — one of the most successful targeted homelessness reduction efforts in U.S. history
• Several cities and states have achieved "functional zero" veteran homelessness (more capacity than demand)
• Post-pandemic, SSVF received emergency supplemental funding that prevented a potential surge in veteran homelessness
• VA has expanded eligibility for homeless veteran services to include veterans with Other Than Honorable discharges in certain circumstances
• Women veteran homelessness has received increased attention, with specialized GPD programs and SSVF services. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act provides foreclosure and eviction protections that help prevent homelessness during active duty