Lessons from L.A. on ending veterans’ homelessness: Robert A. McDonald


Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald speaks at a press conference at the VA West Los Angles Medical Center in this Jan. 29, 2015 file photo. At left is Ron Olson, of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP, and at right is activist and former Santa Monica Mayor Bobby Shriver.

Seven years ago, President Obama and the Department of Veterans Affairs named ending veteran homelessness a top priority. No one who fought for this country should sleep on the streets. Period. So we got to work, and with the help of the first lady’s Joining Forces Initiative and Mayors Challenge, we’ve forged powerful partnerships among federal, state, and local agencies and nongovernmental organizations. As a result, we’ve cut veteran homelessness nearly in half — down 47 percent since 2010.

Today, we better understand what causes homelessness and can better prevent it. Problems with physical and mental health, addiction, poverty, limited social support, and lack of community resources and affordable housing all contribute to veteran homelessness. Compared to the general population, veterans are more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and mental illness.

Fortunately, all of these things are treatable. We know that veterans in our care are less likely to commit suicide, commit crimes or end up homeless. So our focus has been on getting at-risk veterans into the VA health care system.

For those who have already fallen into homelessness, we’ve employed a proven strategy called “Housing First” — because treating veterans for any condition is a lot easier once their basic need for shelter is met.

Since 2010, more than 360,000 veterans and family members have been housed permanently, rapidly rehoused, or prevented from becoming homeless.

In 2015 alone, in partnerships with communities, VA provided services to more than 365,000 homeless, at-risk and formally homeless veterans. More than 36,000 veterans and their family members — including more than 6,500 children — were prevented from becoming homeless.

Three states — Connecticut, Delaware and Virginia — and 34 communities have announced an effective end of homelessness among veterans.

This was achieved by providing communities the resources and best practices to succeed. We are ending veteran homelessness community by community.

Our greatest challenge has been in Los Angeles. That’s why the reduction of veteran homelessness by more than 1,000 veterans in Los Angeles County last year, more than any city in the nation, is proof we can succeed.

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