Noteboom The Law Firm

VA Wants to Beat Their Own 2015 Deadline For Ending Homelessness

Homelessness has long plagued the military veteran community. When Eric Shinseki became Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary, he pledged to end this homeless epidemic among veterans by 2015.

The VA's latest situational report on their battle against homelessness is a positive one. The VA has made so much progress toward their 2015 goal, Deputy VA Sec. W. Scott Gould said beating that goal may be possible. Sec. Shinseki goes a step further and stated his new goal is now 2014.

Speaking to the VA's progress, Sec. Shinseki pointed out 6 years ago, approximately 195,000 veterans were homeless. Because of the VA's efforts, that number has dropped to approximately 76,000.

By June 30, 2012, Sec. Shinseki plans on having that number cut again to below 59,000. Doing so, however, costs money, which is reflected in the VA's requested budget for 2012 of $939,000,000, which is more than $140,000,000 more than last year. This number reflects what is needed to not only maintain the progress made, but to further that progress.

The VA is also inventorying the vacant or underused buildings in their possession that could be used as transitional housing for homeless veterans, veterans at-risk of becoming homeless, and their families. To date, the VA has discovered what could amount to 6,300 new housing units were they to be renovated.

To successfully wipe out homelessness, the root cause of that homelessness must be addressed. For many veterans those root issues are health and mental health conditions, to include substance abuse. Homelessness is simply the last step on a downward spiral in which many veterans find themselves.

The VA must treat the steps leading to veterans becoming homeless if they are to eliminate homelessness. This must happen sooner rather than later as more veterans are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and are facing mental health issues in greater numbers.