OPERATION HOMELESS
VETERANS
General Information
Call 1-877-4AID-VET or
(1-877-424-3838)
Companies and organizations currently working to end veteran homelessness use multiple media outlets to connect with the public on different ways they can help the VA's mission, such as by newsletters and social media. This sector of the Veterans Affairs Department focuses on the transition away from homelessness by helping veterans move into suitable housing. They also collect household goods donated by supporters, which they then provide to these veterans.
Stand Down Event
Check out this PDF for more detailed information on stand down events and their services.
Mirrored after life in the military, stand down events take place around the nation to help homeless veterans receive needed support and resources. These events tend to be held over a three-day period and offer homeless veterans an opportunity to be reunited in their past service by living in tents with other vets and assembled into teams (Alfa, Bravo, etc.). During this time, veterans can attend different booths that offer a wide range of services, from job applications to dental care to housing assistance.
Check out this video by 60 Minutes on a stand down event in San Diego in 2010.
Health Care
Check out this PDF for more information about the HCHV program offered by the VA.
The Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) program offered by the VA is one of the most vital parts of their effort to end veteran homelessness. The vast majority of veterans (3 in 4) have substance abuse or mental health problems, and this program targets those issues at the root to make a positive change. HCHV plays an essential role in placing many homeless veterans into suitable housing.
The goal of Housing First programs are to take veterans off the streets first and foremost, providing them with a stable environment to live in. Then, once this transition is complete, they are granted different resources to help them personally. According to the VA, "a demonstration project that compared a Housing First program offering immediate permanent housing without requiring treatment compliance, abstinence, or housing readiness with a treatment-first program...found that the Housing First initiative successfully reduced time to housing placement, from 235 to 35 days; housing retention rates were significantly higher among Housing First tenants; and emergency room use declined significantly among the Housing First cohort" (Veterans Affairs Department).
Community Employment Coordinators (CECs) work with homeless veterans at VA Medical Centers to help them learn what positions are available within the community. These coordinators are skilled in assessing the skills veterans possess and helping them find jobs that align with those skills. Furthermore, they understand how to help veterans exercise their experience from the military in their employment search. The Homeless Veterans Community Employment Services (HVCES), which CECs work for, were designed by the VA to help homeless veterans maximize their chances for employment.
Information from Veterans Affairs website.