WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) have released the 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count results, indicating a historic decrease in Veteran homelessness. The data reveals a 7.5% decline since 2023 and a remarkable 55.6% reduction since 2010 in Veterans experiencing homelessness.
Conducted annually, the PIT Count assesses both sheltered and unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness on a single night each January. The latest findings show 32,882 Veterans were homeless in January 2024, with 13,851 of them unsheltered. This represents a 10.7% decrease in unsheltered Veteran homelessness compared to the previous year.
VA Secretary Denis McDonough emphasized the importance of these findings, affirming, “No Veteran should experience homelessness in this country they swore to defend. This year’s PIT Count shows that VA and the entire Biden-Harris Administration are making real progress in the fight to end Veteran homelessness. We still have a long way to go, but we will not stop until every Veteran has a safe, stable place to call home.”
HUD Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman echoed this sentiment, noting the administration’s dedication to addressing Veteran homelessness. “Far too many of our nation’s veterans experience homelessness each year, and that is why HUD is laser-focused on ensuring that every Veteran has a home. Today, thanks to interagency efforts by the entire Biden-Harris Administration and our partners on the ground, we are proud to announce a significant decline in Veteran homelessness this year.”
Throughout fiscal year 2024, VA has successfully housed nearly 48,000 homeless Veterans, contributing to a total of 134,000 since 2022. This achievement underscores the efficacy of the “Housing First” approach, which prioritizes immediate housing for Veterans, followed by essential services such as healthcare, job training, and legal assistance to sustain their housing stability.
Jeff Olivet, Director of USICH, highlighted the effectiveness of strategic investments in housing and healthcare. “This data show that with the right investments in housing and health care, and with strong leadership and coordination across government, homelessness is solvable,” Olivet stated. “The challenge now is to end Veteran homelessness and use the lessons we learn to help all people without a home.”
In alignment with these efforts, the VA has allocated over $800 million in grants for aiding Veterans experiencing homelessness. Furthermore, USICH has launched the federal government’s inaugural framework for homelessness prevention, while HUD and VA have introduced policy adjustments to enhance Veteran access to housing through the HUD-VA Supportive Housing program.
Notable progress has been made in the Greater Los Angeles area, where the VA permanently housed 1,854 homeless Veterans this fiscal year, surpassing its regional goal by 15.5% and marking the city as a leader in combatting Veteran homelessness for the third consecutive year. The PIT Count indicates a 22.9% reduction in Veteran homelessness in Los Angeles from 2023 to 2024.
The 2024 PIT Count results are a testament to the collaborative efforts across federal agencies and highlight a promising trajectory towards eradicating Veteran homelessness nationwide.
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