U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Improving Access to Mainstream Services for People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness, Palmer House, Chicago, Illinois, May 20-22, 2003

 

Slide 1:

VA
VETERANS
HOMELESS PROGRAMS

Slide 2:

To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan… — Abraham Lincoln

Slide 3:

OVERVIEW

VA Organizations (VBA, VHA, NCA)
Purpose
Mission
Milestones
Demographics
   -General
   -Homelessness
Homeless Programs

Slide 4:

PURPOSE

To Administer the laws providing benefits and other services to veterans and their dependents and the beneficiaries of veterans.

http://www.va.gov/pubaff/fedben/

Slide 5:

MISSION

To Serve America’s Veterans & Their Families With Dignity & Compassion & Be Their Principal Advocate In Ensuring That They Receive Medical Care, Benefits, Social Support, & Lasting Memorials Promoting The Health, Welfare, & Dignity Of All Veterans In Recognition Of Their Service To This Nation.

Slide 6:

MILESTONES

  • 1930
    • Created by Executive Order 5398, signed by President Herbert Hoover on
      July 21, 1930. At that time, there were 54 hospitals, 4.7 million living veterans
      and 31,600 employees.
  • 1944
    • On June 22, 1944, President Roosevelt signed the “Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944”, offering home loan and education benefits to veterans.
  • 1973
    • The National Cemetery System (except for Arlington National Cemetery) was transferred by the Army to VA.
  • 1988
    • Legislation to elevate VA to Cabinet-Level status was signed by President Reagan
  • 1989
    • On March 15, VA became the 14th Department in the President’s Cabinet.

Slide 7:

PROGRAM MILESTONES

  • 1987 - HCMI
  • 1987 – McKinney Act
  • 1992 - CHALENG
  • 1992 - Grant & Per Diem
  • 1998 - Multifamily Housing
  • 1999 - Expansion-Pilots
  • 2001 - Homeless Services Act

Slide 8:

VA ORGANIZATIONS

  • VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (VHA)
    • Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV)
    • Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans (DCHV)
  • VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION (VBA)
    • Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Service
    • Education Service
    • Compensation & Pension Service
    • Loan Guaranty Service
  • OFFICE OF PUBLIC & INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
    • Homeless Veterans Program Office
  • NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION (NCA)
  • CENTER FOR MINORITY VETERANS
  • CENTER FOR WOMEN VETERANS

Slide 9:

VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION

  • More than $30 billion budget
  • More than 200,000 staff
  • 163 hospitals
  • 137 nursing homes
  • 43 domiciliaries
  • 850 ambulatory care and community-based clinics
  • 206 readjustment counseling centers

http://www.va.gov/vbs/health/

Slide 10:

VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION

Compensation Totals as of September 30, 2002

Class of Dependent Number Monthly Value

Veteran recipients--total

2,298,287

1,465,761,000

Veterans less than 30% disabled
(no dependency benefit)

1,209,274

162,020,000

Veterans 30% or more disabled

1,189,013

1,303,741,000

Without dependents

378,596

386,724,000

With dependents

810,417

917,017,000

Slide 11:

Demographics
Veteran Population in the U.S. and Puerto Rico by Sex

This slide of a Pie Chart of the Veteran Population by state indicates that out of 25.3 million people, 93% are male and 7% are female.

VetPop2001Adj.
Office of the Actuary, VA

Slide 12:

Male/Female Veterans v. Adult U.S. Male/Female Nonveterans

These bar graphs compare the age groups of male/female veterans versus nonveterans. In the age group 18 – 64 18% of the US population are male veterans, 81% are male non-veterans, 2% are female veterans and 98% are female nonveterans. For age group 65-84, male veterans = 64%, male nonveterans = 35%, 2% = female veterans, 98% are female nonveterans.

US CENSUS BUREAU
CENSUS 2000

Slide 13:

Veteran Population by Period of Service

These bar graphs indicate veteran population by period of service as of March 2003. Vietnam era = 8.5, World War II = 5.4, Korean Conflict = 4.0, World War I = 1,000 with a note that vets that served both in world wars were counted in the WWII total. Peacetime military service = 6.3.

Slide 14:

Percent of Veterans by Race and National Origin

This slide showing bar graphs indicating US veterans by race and national origin indicate that 85% are white, 10% are black, 4% are Hispanic, 1% Asian and Pacific Islanders, 1% Native American and 1% other races.

US CENSUS BUREAU
CENSUS 2000

Slide 15:

Female Veterans U.S. and Puerto Rico

This slide shows a graph projecting the Female Veterans population for the US and Puerto Rico by year, 2000 = 1,616, 2010 = 1,809, 2020 = 2,001 and 2030 = 2,199.

VetPop2001 Adj.
December 2002

Slide 16:

Types of Medical Insurance for Homeless Veterans and Nonveterans of Homeless Assistance Programs and Services

Types of Medical Insurance for Homeless Vets and Homeless NonVets. Of homeless male veterans, 17% are covered by Medicaid, 32% are covered by the VA Medical Centers, 4% have private insurance, 49% have no insurance and 9% listed as other.
For homeless male nonveterans, 25% are covered by Medicaid, 0% covered by VA Medical Centers, 4% have private insurance, 68% have no insurance and 6% listed as other.

Source: 1996 National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients (1999), Urban Institute, Washington DC

Slide 17:

WHO ARE HOMELESS VETERANS?

  • Characteristics:
    • More likely to be white
    • Better Educated
    • Previously or currently married
  • Homeless Veterans are:
    • Mostly males (2% are females)
    • 45% suffer from mental illness
    • 33% have both psychiatric and substance abuse disorders.

Slide 18:

DEMOGRAPHICS OF HOMELESS VETERANS

23%

Homeless population are veterans

31%

Male homeless population are veterans

57%

Have used VA Health Care Services (25% targeted)

32%

Homeless 1 year or more

31%

Homeless 4 times or more

89%

Received Honorable Discharge

71%

Reside in central cities (31%)

21%

Reside in suburban areas (46%)

9%

Reside in rural areas (23%)

33%

Stationed in war zone

28%

Exposed to combat

67%

3 years or more military service

Source: VA Office of Homeless Veteran Programs

Slide 19:

Grant and Per Diem

This slide shows a map of the United States indicating where grant and per diem programs, per diem only programs, and van sites are located. More densely located in the northeast, but some services in Alaska and Hawaii.

Slide 20:

Community Homeless Assessment Local Education and Networking Groups (CHALENG)

This slide shows a map of the United States indicating where homeless assessment local education and networking groups are located (also called CHALENG). There are many more sites than the per diem programs with many more sites in the Midwest and California. Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico all served.

Slide 21:

STAND DOWN

  • 1994-2002 – Nearly 900 Events
  • 135,000 - Veterans (5.5% women in 2002)
  • 12,000 - Spouses
  • 6,000 - Children
  • 130,000 - Volunteers

Slide 22:

VBA Homeless Veterans Outreach Coordinators

This slide shows a map of the US indicating where full and part time Veteran Outreach Coordinators are located. 20 sites have full time coordinators, 37 sites have part time coordinators. All states appear to be covered.

Slide 23:

PARTNERSHIPS

  • HUD
  • HHS
  • LABOR
  • JUSTICE
  • AGRICULTURE
  • POLICY ACADEMIES
  • US INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS
  • ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON HOMELESS VETERANS

Slide 24:

CONTACT INFORMATION

HOMELESS PROGRAM OFFICE
Tel: 202-273-5764
Email: homelessvets@mail.va.gov
VA Web Page: www.va.gov