Va okc healthcare system housed 367 veterans experiencing homelessness this fiscal year. | va oklahoma city health care | veterans affairs

Oklahoma City , OK — VA OKC Healthcare System (OKC HCS) announced that it housed 367 Veterans experiencing homeless in Oklahoma this fiscal year. * Sept. 24, 2024

                                              VA OKC HEALTHCARE SYSTEM HOUSED 367 VETERANS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS THIS FISCAL YEAR.  OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, VA OKC Healthcare System (OKC

HCS) announced that it housed 367 Veterans experiencing homeless in Oklahoma this fiscal year. A total of 98.8% of these Veterans have not returned to homelessness and the OKC VA HCS Social

Work Services continues to reach out to any unsheltered Veterans to ensure they have access to housing and other wraparound services they deserve.  Nationally, during this same time period,

VA housed 43,116 Veterans experiencing homelessness, surpassing its fiscal year 2024 goal to house 41,000 Veterans a month earlier than anticipated. A total of 96.3% of the Veterans housed

have not returned to homelessness, and 38,476 unsheltered Veterans have been engaged nationally. Preventing and eliminating Veteran homelessness is a top priority for VA and the entire

Biden-Harris Administration. Between 2022 and 2023, VA permanently housed nearly 87,000 Veterans. As a result of these efforts, the number of Veterans experiencing homelessness in the U.S.

has fallen by over 4% since early 2020 and by more than 52% since 2010.  “No person who has served this country should ever have to experience homelessness,” said VA SECRETARY DENIS

MCDONOUGH. “As a result of this year’s efforts, more than 43,000 formerly homeless Veterans now have access to the homes that they deserve. And make no mistake: we won’t rest until every

Veteran has a safe, stable, accessible, and affordable home to call their own.” VA and the entire administration have taken considerable steps this year to combat Veteran homelessness. This

week, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness released the federal government’s first ever framework for homelessness prevention and launched a new series spotlighting local and federal

efforts to prevent homelessness. Last month, VA awarded more than $800 million in grants via its Supportive Services for Veteran Families and Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem programs,

and in July, awarded over $26 million in grants to support legal services for Veterans facing homelessness. Additionally, last month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

(HUD) and VA announced policy changes that will help more Veterans receive housing assistance under the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.  VA’s efforts to combat Veteran

homelessness are grounded in reaching out to homeless Veterans, understanding their unique needs, and addressing them. These efforts are built on the evidence-based “Housing First” approach,

which prioritizes getting a Veteran into housing, then providing or connecting them with the wraparound services and supports they need to stay housed, including health care, job training,

legal and education assistance, and more.  Every day, VA staff and VA’s community partners nationwide help Veterans find permanent housing, such as apartments or houses to rent or own, often

with subsidies to help make the housing affordable. In some cases, VA staff and partners help Veterans end their homelessness by reuniting them with family and friends. Visit the

VA.gov/homeless to learn about housing initiatives and other programs supporting Veterans experiencing homelessness.  ### If you are a Veteran who is experiencing homelessness or at risk of

homelessness, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838) or visit VA.gov/homeless.