A nationwide 30-day effort to house as many homeless veterans as possible was announced January 5 in Los Angeles by Department of Veteran Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald.
“We have made significant progress in dramatically reducing homelessness among veterans in recent years, but we know there is more to be done,” McDonald said. “For the next 30 days — during a time of year when temperatures in many parts of the country can become dangerously cold — I challenge VA and all of our partners to strategically target available resources to help our nation’s homeless veterans.”
McDonald made the announcement during a forum with community leaders, including Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
The effort by the VA and its partners involves prioritizing homeless veterans for placement into safe housing and organizing homeless “stand- downs” and rapid rehousing events in communities, according to the VA.
Since 2010, the number of homeless veterans has been reduced by 47 percent, the VA said.
“I applaud VA Secretary McDonald’s announcement today of a concerted 30- day push to house homeless veterans from coast to coast,” said Rep. Ted W. Lieu, D-Torrance.
“As a veteran, I believe that no woman or man who has served their nation in uniform should have to fight for a roof over their head when their service is done,” he said. “Some veterans are homeless precisely because of mental or physical injuries they incurred when they served our country.”
