VA Rocky Mountain Network
VA Rocky Mountain Network Connects 2,127 Veterans to Secure Housing in 2023
March 7, 2024
GLENDALE, Colo. – In a momentous stride toward addressing homelessness among Veterans, VA Rocky Mountain Network (VISN 19) announced the successful, permanent housing placement of 2,127 Veterans in 2023. The 2,127 Veterans represent over 103% of the 2023 targeted goal of supporting 2,044 Veterans experiencing homelessness.
“Each Veteran among the 2,127 Veterans who now have secure housing represents someone who fought to defend our country and fell out of stable housing,” said Sunaina Kumar-Giebel, director of the VA Rocky Mountain Network. “Homelessness is a complex issue, and we are grateful for our dedicated VISN 19 Homeless Program staff and community partners who continue to tackle this intensive societal issue.” Without secure housing, many of the critical components of wellbeing are impacted, including access to physical and mental health care, access to employment and access to social connection.
VA is uniquely positioned as a health care system to respond to the homeless crisis, as its housing program for homeless Veterans (HUD-VASH) offers more than just a roof over a Veteran’s head. It also provides Veterans with case management by a social worker, medical care, and housing and social services assistance to help them find and maintain permanent housing. VA also has programs to help Veterans gain meaningful employment and has programs that assist Veterans in the criminal justice system gain access to VA services and programs.
These efforts are built around the evidence-based Housing First approach, which prioritizes getting a Veteran into housing and then assisting the Veteran with access to health care and other support systems that promote stable housing and improved quality of life. The approach does not try to determine who is “housing ready” or demand treatment prior to housing. Instead, treatment and other support services are wrapped around Veterans as they obtain and maintain permanent housing.
“No Veteran should ever experience the tragedy and indignity of homelessness. More than 46,000 formerly homeless Veterans are going to sleep tonight in good, safe, stable homes — and there’s nothing more important than that,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “While this is an important step forward, we’re not stopping here — we’re going to keep pushing until every Veteran has a safe, stable place to call home in this country they fought to defend.”
VISN 19’s efforts are part of a Department of Veterans Affairs 2023 goal to house 38,000 homeless Veterans nationally. VA recently announced that 46,552 previously unhoused Veterans are now connected with secure housing in 2023, surpassing the goal by 22.5%.
If you are a Veteran who is experiencing homelessness or at risk for homelessness, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838). Visit VA Homeless Programs to learn about housing initiatives and other programs for Veterans exiting homelessness.
About VISN 19: VA Rocky Mountain Network is one of 18 geographic VISNs across the United States, and consists of eight health care systems in Colorado, Montana, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming, spanning more than 500,000 square miles, the largest geographic area in the continental United States.
2023 Veteran housing numbers by VISN 19 health care system:
- Montana VA Health Care System: 233 Veterans placed in secure housing
- Cheyenne VA Health Care System: 152 Veterans placed in secure housing
- VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System: 752 Veterans placed in secure housing
- VA Western Colorado Health Care System: 92 Veterans placed in secure housing
- Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System: 181 Veterans placed in secure housing
- Oklahoma City VA Health Care System: 314 Veterans placed in secure housing
- VA Salt Lake City Health Care System: 290 Veterans placed in secure housing
- Sheridan VA Health Care System: 90 Veterans placed in secure housing
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Jason Strickland, VISN 19 Chief Communications Officer
VHAV19CCO@va.gov
303-619-1145
Kayla Giuliano, VISN 19 Deputy Chief Communications Officer
Kayla.Giuliano@va.gov
970-314-6582
