Homeless Veterans at Life’s End Military History Toolkit Produced by the Veterans Advisory Council A taskforce of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

Definition of Homelessness Public law “the McKinney Act” (1987) – A homeless person is one who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence; and – who has a primary nighttime residence that is a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter, a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or a public or private place not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

The Statistics VA estimates that 107,000 Veterans are homeless on any given night Over the course of a year, approximately twice that many experience homelessness. Only eight percent of the general population can claim Veteran status, but nearly one-fifth of the homeless population are Veterans. About 1.5 million Veterans are considered at risk of homelessness

Causes of Veteran Homelessness Shortage of affordable housing, livable income and limited access to health care Lingering effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Substance abuse Lack of family and social support networks

Who are Homeless Veterans? 23% of the homeless population are Veterans 13% of all sheltered homeless adults are Veterans 47% of homeless Veterans served during the Vietnam Era 33% were stationed in a war zone 89% received an honorable discharge Reference:

Who are Homeless Veterans? 45% suffer from mental illness 70% suffer from substance abuse problems 58% have health/physical problems 46% are age 45 or older compared to 20% of non-Veteran homeless citizens Reference:

VA Homeless Programs Every VA medical center has a homeless Veteran services coordinator who is responsible for providing outreach and services for homeless or at-risk Veterans National Call Center for Homeless Veterans – AID-VET ( ) Homeless Veterans Chat links to Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline – Reference:

VA Homeless Programs Prevention Services Housing and Support Services Treatment Employment/Job Training Benefits/Other Services Other Resources

Prevention Services National Call Center for Homeless Veterans Healthcare for Reentry Veteran Justice Outreach Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program

Housing and Support Services HUD – VA Supported Housing Program (VASH) Grant & Per Diem Supported Housing

Treatment Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Veteran Stand Downs Homeless Veteran Dental Assistance Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans Drop-in Centers

Stand Downs Stand Downs for Homeless Veterans – Events to provide outreach to homeless Veterans – Coordinated among local VA Medical Centers, other government agencies and community agencies serving the homeless For locations of Stand Downs – – Homeless Veterans Programs Office:

Employment/Job Training Compensated Work Therapy/Transitional Residence (CWT/TR) Program – For disadvantaged, at-risk, and homeless Veterans – Community-based supervised group homes – VA contracts with private industry and public sector

Benefits and Other Services Homeless Veteran Benefit Assistance Property Sales for Homeless Providers Excess Property for Homeless Veterans

How can you help? Support emergency shelters Volunteer as mentors, counselors or legal aide Raise funds for programs Volunteer at Stand Down programs Develop Homeless Veteran Burial Programs Partner with your local VA to ensure Veterans can access hospice services

Where to find help National Coalition for Homeless Veterans – Phone: VET-HELP – – Website: VA Medical Centers – Homeless Coordinator – – – Phone VETS State Director of Veterans Affairs – Website:

Where to Find Help Veterans Service Organizations and Auxiliary Organizations (VSOs) AMVETS Blinded Veterans Association Disabled American Veterans Veterans of Foreign Wars Vietnam Veterans of America

Where to Find Help Veteran Homestead Hospice, Fitchburg, MA – a unique program providing hospice care to homeless Veterans in a residential, homelike setting Website: To view video :

PROJECT CHALENG Project CHALENG (Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups) Launched in 1994 by VA Designed to enhance the continuum of care for homeless Veterans provided by the local VA and its surrounding community service agencies Ref:

A Parting Word-Please Remember All VA enrolled Veterans are entitled to VA payment of hospice care across all settings regardless of their service connection VA and hospice partnerships can improve Veterans’ access to the care and services they need at the end of life