The Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded more than $818 million in grants to 235 organizations nationwide to help veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
In an Aug. 26 release, VA said the grants will fund local organizations as they help veterans access housing and housing counseling, health care, financial planning services, childcare, legal assistance and transportation services.
“Supportive services like childcare, housing counseling and financial planning can be important catalysts for preventing or resolving homelessness,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “These grants will help bring crucial support to thousands of veterans in need across the nation.”
The grants are awarded based on a number of factors, including the recipients’ experience and past performance in providing supportive services to veteran families, and the need in the area or community where the program will be based.
According to VA figures, between January 2023 and January 2024, the number of veterans experiencing any form of homelessness dropped from 35,574 to 32,882 — a 7.5 percent drop since last year, an 11.7 percent drop since 2020, and a 55.6 percent drop since 2010. Among unsheltered veterans, the number dropped 10.7 percent — from 15,507 in 2023 to 13,851 in 2024.
The grants are being made available through VA’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families program.
In a separate announcement, VA said it has guaranteed its 29 millionth home loan since the program was created in 1944. According to the release, that loan was guaranteed for a $235,000 home in Maryland purchased by a Navy veteran.
VA’s home loan program enables private lenders to offer eligible veterans and service members loans that are guaranteed by the department, effectively eliminating the need for a down payment and mortgage insurance and making home ownership much more affordable.
“VA’s home loan program has helped service members and veterans achieve the American dream millions of times over,” said Collins. “It is one of the most effective federal programs in history, and we are proud to carry on its tradition of success.”
Veterans interested in the program should request a certificate of eligibility from the department or through their mortgage lender. Currently, 99.8 percent of these certificates are issued within three days.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.