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Changing Lives |
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Compassion Spotlight
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The Need
There are approximately 23 million U.S. military veterans in the United States.
Some of these veterans face great challenges, including homelessness, disability, hospitalization, or other special needs.
About 25% of the adult homeless population has served their country in the Armed Services. Estimates in 2002 put the number of homeless veterans at nearly 295,000.
The Response
For virtually every need faced by America’s veterans, there are faith-based and other community organizations (FBCOs) working to help resolve it. Working alongside U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Hospitals and other Federally-operated services, FBCOs are vital partners in meeting the unique challenges faced by those who served their country in uniform. The Faith-Based and Community Initiative champions efforts to strengthen these organizations and expand Federal partnerships with them.
Homeless Veterans
FBCOs are central to a range of Federal efforts to help homeless veterans transition successfully from the streets to stable housing and employment.
The Homeless Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program at VA has greatly expanded its networks of FBCO partners providing services to homeless veterans. The GPD program is a direct grant, designed to fund up to 65% of projects, primarily for the construction, acquisition, or renovation of facilities serving homeless veterans. From 2002 to 2007, the number of FBCOs funded through GDP rose from 176 to 506—a 287% increase.
The Loan Guaranty Homeless Program (PDF - 170 KB) sells VA-acquired properties to approved non-profit providers at a discount of 20 to 50% for the purpose of developing shelters for primarily homeless veterans. From 2004 to March 2008, an estimated 200 properties had been sold to non-profits.
The Loan Guaranty Program for Homeless Veterans Multifamily Transitional Housing provides loans to FBCOs to build multifamily transitional housing for homeless veterans. Most recently, Catholic Charities’ St. Leo Campus opened its newly built apartment building, which is occupied by 141 homeless veterans.
The Restored Vision for Homeless Veterans (PDF - 153 KB) pilot is one of many additional VA projects through which FBCOs aid homeless veterans. This effort has provided over 432 homeless veterans with eyewear since 2006.
The Continuum of Care program at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which serves homeless veterans and non-veterans, increased the number of FBCOs it directly funds by nearly 500 organizations between 2003 to 2006, a 30% increase. Since 2003, HUD has provided funding for more than 42,000 new, permanent, supportive housing beds.
The Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH) is an innovative new partnership between HUD and VA. It provides homeless veterans with vouchers that enable them to access medical care through the VA, as well as housing and other supportive services through FBCOs partnered with HUD. The 2008 enacted budget provided $75 million for roughly 10,000 HUD-VASH vouchers for homeless veterans, and the President proposed an additional 10,000 vouchers in the FY2009 Budget.
The Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP) at the U.S. Department of Labor makes grants to FBCOs and other partners to address the employment component of services for homeless veterans. Since 2002, HVRP grant sites have served more than 80,850 homeless veterans, placing 48,400 in transitional or permanent housing, and helping 52,460 find jobs.
As a result of these and other efforts—including the Interagency Council on Homelessness and VA’s Project CHALENG (Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education, and Networking Groups)—the number of homeless veterans has dropped dramatically. Estimates in 2002 placed the number of homeless veterans on a given night at nearly 295,000. Last year, VA estimates placed that number at approximately 154,000. This means that the estimated number of veterans who are homeless on any given night has been nearly cut in half over the past five years. A variety of factors contributed to this success, including significantly expanded Federal partnership with FBCOs; more effective coordination of Federal, State and local efforts; substantial reduction in the number of poor veterans (from 3 million in 1990 to 1.8 million in 2000); and enhanced efforts to collect data on the numbers and needs of homeless people.
Disabled Veterans
Many veterans have serious employment handicaps and need vocational rehabilitation to overcome them. The Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Service has been expanding partnerships with FBCOs around the country. Through the “FBCI=VetSuccess” (PDF - 153 KB) pilot, opportunities for employment and supportive services are being provided to veterans with service-connected disabilities.
This partnership has yielded four Federal partnerships with 150 new FBCOs that provide needed service to veterans.
As a result of these partnerships, VA has significantly increased the number of veterans with service-connected disabilities entering suitable employment—from 362 in FY 2005 to 673 in FY 2007.
Veterans Returning from Afghanistan and Iraq
VA liaisons work to engage FBCOs around the country in ways that will complement VA services provided to veterans returning from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Under the VA Chaplain Service, local VA chaplains conduct half-day training events throughout the country to provide education and resources for clergy members on physical, mental, and spiritual health issues experienced by some returning warriors and their families.
In FY 2007, VA chaplains conducted 21 training events attended by 1,330 participants.
Chaplain Open Houses provide FBCOs with information about VA’s programs for returning veterans and how they can participate in them. VA has hosted Open Houses across the country reaching nearly 700 participants.
Hospitalized Veterans
In FY 2006, VA admitted approximately 569,000 veterans to the VA Hospitals. These veterans have many needs that extend beyond treatment—including escorts to take them to and from appointments, writing and reading services, and assistance in clinic rehabilitation centers. FBCOs and thousands of individual volunteers are actively involved in providing a wide range of services to hospitalized veterans.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (VAVS) was founded in 1946 to provide for veterans while they are cared for by VA health care facilities.
One of the largest centralized volunteer programs in the Federal Government, VAVS has over 85,000 active volunteers.
65 major veterans, civic, and service organizations and more than 350 State and local FBCOs are actively involved in providing services to hospitalized veterans in their local communities.
In fiscal year 2007, 85,428 active VAVS volunteers contributed a total of more than 11.6 million hours of service — equal to 5,574 full-time employees worth $218 million.
In FY 2007, volunteers and their organizations generated approximately $59 million in direct gifts and donations, up from $40 million in FY 2001.
