Homelessness among military veterans dropped nearly 12 percent on a typical night from January 2010 to January 2011, according to the results of a national report announced today by the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Urban Development.
The Annual Homeless Assessment report showed that nearly 67,500 vets were homeless on a single night in January 2011, down from 76,330 in January 2010.
The agencies attribute the drop to the five-year plan, launched by the Department of Veterans Affairs in November 2009, to end homelessness among vets by 2015.
Since 2009, the VA and HUD have worked with more than 4,000 communities’ agencies to house nearly 33,600 vets in permanent housing with case managers and VA health care.
A recent VA study of veterans who graduated from residential rehabilitation and transitional housing programs showed that 79 percent remained independently housed one year later.
The VA also announced that it will make $100 million in grants available in fiscal year 2012 to community agencies throughout the United States to help 42,000 vets and their families from becoming homeless, or to help them quickly return to stable housing.
Last year, the VA provided $60 million through its Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, which helped nearly 22,000 people through 85 non-profit community agencies in 40 states.
Colleen O’Connor: 303-954-1083 or coconnor@denverpost.com
