Category:

As a crucial effort to end homelessness among US veterans, more and more former service members are getting into permanent supportive housing (PSH) for veterans. There is no denying that PSH has successfully offered permanent housing for veterans, but more research is needed to go beyond housing placement and retention. As a country, we will be forever indebted to the men and women who have served in the military. One of the best ways to show our appreciation is to ensure that they have access to affordable housing when they return to civilian life.

Unfortunately, many veterans continuously struggle to find affordable housing solutions. This leads them to homelessness, financial stress, and many other problems. Ensuring affordable housing options are available for veterans can help them get back to civilian life and ensure that they get the support they need to thrive.

What are the Challenges Veterans Face to Find Affordable Housing?

When it comes to finding permanent housing for veterans, the main challenge they face is finding affordable housing because of the high cost of living in many areas. Most veterans have served in high-cost areas, and when they come back to civilian life after they are discharged, they struggle to afford housing in those areas. In addition to that, many veterans have disabilities or other health issues that make it troublesome for them to work. This can further strain their finances and make it hard for them to afford housing.

Another crucial factor that inhibits permanent housing for veterans is the lack of affordable options. In most areas, there is a shortage of affordable housing. This makes it difficult for low-income individuals, including veterans, to find a place to live. This shortage is exacerbated because multiple affordable housing units are reserved for specific groups. These include seniors or individuals with disabilities, leaving fewer options to other groups, including the veterans.

The Impact of Affordable Housing on the Veterans

The shortage of affordable housing prevents permanent housing for veterans. It can have significant impacts on them. Homelessness is a major concern for many veterans because it can lead to health issues, social isolation, and financial stress. Along with that, a lot of veterans might have problems accessing medical care and other services if they don’t have a secure place to live.

Affordable housing helps to alleviate such problems by offering a stable and safe place to live. It also helps eliminate financial stress among veterans and allows them to focus on other priorities like finding work or pursuing education. Also, affordable housing can offer a sense of community and support for veterans struggling to adapt to civilian life after serving in the military for decades.

How to Increase Affordable Permanent Housing for the Veterans?

There are different ways to increase the affordable permanent housing options for veterans. One way is to offer financial assistance through programs like the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF). The program offers grants to organizations that help at-risk veterans to find and maintain housing. Another way is to increase the availability of affordable housing units. This is possible by building new units, offering incentives to the landlords for renting the units to veterans at affordable rates, and renovating the existing units. Also, we can work to increase the awareness of affordable permanent housing options for veterans.

No comments yet

The VA offers housing grants to veterans with 100 percent disability ratings. There are four types of grants for housing help for veterans. They are:

• Specially Adapted Housing (SAH)
• Special Home Adaptation (SHA)
• Home Improvements & Structural Alterations (HISA)
• Temporary Residence Adaptation (TRA)

The objective of these grants is to provide veterans who are completely disabled with housing that accommodates the disability and helps them in gaining independence. The type of grants that are eligible for will depend on the type of disability. Based on the eligibility, you can use the grant money to buy or build a new home or modify the current home. You will also be eligible for the grant money to change a temporary home while awaiting a permanent residence.

SAH – When it is about housing help for the veterans, Specially Adapted Housing Grants help 100 percent of disabled veterans with mobility issues. For instance, a veteran might need a home with wheelchair accessibility features. They can use the grant money to do things like building ramps or widen the doorways. According to Federal Law, the home should meet the minimum property requirements to make sure that the primary entrances, exits, bathrooms, bedrooms, and sleeping areas are sufficiently accessible.

SAH Eligibility – You can use the SAH grant, but you have to show that you will be building, buying, or changing the existing home. You must own the home yourself and intend to be the permanent resident of the home. There are 120 SAH grants available every year for the veterans who qualify based on eligibility. You don’t have to use the SAH grant money all at once. You can use the money from the grant up to six times throughout your lifetime. The VA might adjust the total of the remaining grant every year based on the construction cost.

SHA – Housing help for veterans is available for the qualified veterans with 100 percent permanent disability ratings who immediately need the changes to their homes because of their disability conditions. The program comes with different eligibility criteria than the SAH grants.

SHA Eligibility – You are eligible for the SHA grant if you or your family member chooses to own the home. Like the SAH grants, you won’t have to use the SHA grant funds all at once. You can use it up to six times to make the necessary and approved changes to the home and modify it according to your disability.

HISA – The HISA grant helps disabled veterans make the necessary home improvements needed for the treatment of disability access. The VA allows qualified improvements like roll-in showers, lowered countertops, and better electrical or plumbing for accommodating medical equipment.

HISA Eligibility – The veterans are eligible for a HISA grant if they have a service-connected disability or a compensable disability that occurred during active duty. This can include a disability that happened during the VA treatment or vocational rehabilitation. You also qualify if you need a place to address a non-service-connected disability if you have a service-related disability with a 50 percent disability rating.

TRA – The TRA grant helps veterans who stay with relatives while waiting for permanent placement elsewhere, like veterans’ homes, or while waiting for new permanent homes. It covers the changes needed at the relatives’ home to make things more accessible to you.

TRA Eligibility – You won’t have to own a temporary residence to qualify for the TRA grant. Other qualifications are the same as those for the SHA and SAH grants, based on which one you are using as the basis of your qualifications for the TRA funds.

No comments yet

Every November, the nation takes a day off to remember the veterans and honor their sacrifices. The question that comes up here is, are we doing enough for our veterans? Are our veterans living a happy and peaceful life? The sacrifices they made for us, the least we can offer them in return is a happy and peaceful life after they are discharged. Did you successfully do that? The veterans kept us safe for decades. They deserve our utmost respect, love, and care. Unfortunately, a huge number of veterans face homelessness issues after they are discharged from the military. Here is where help for the homeless veterans comes in. In this blog, we will share a few factors that will tell us whether we are doing enough for our heroes. These factors elaborate the results of the efforts to end homelessness among veterans and share the remaining barriers to ending homelessness in the USA.

1. Drop in the Number of Veterans’ Homelessness

Did you know? In just a decade (2010-2020), the number of homeless veterans in the USA has been reduced to half. This has been possible because of the help for homeless veterans. The two primary pillars behind such an achievement are I) Housing First Strategy & 2) Investments Specific to Help for Homeless Veterans.

The HUD-VASH program opted for housing-first strategies in 2012. This approach recognized the specific needs for help for the homeless veterans and the best practices that have proven effective for the veterans. It reduced housing placement waiting times, reduced emergency room trips, and improved retention in permanent housing. Help for homeless veterans also included supportive services for veterans and their families, which started in 2011. It focuses on rapid rehousing and prevention services.

2. Initially Being a Veteran Increased the Risk of Being Homeless – But That’s Changing

Historically, national policy failures meant that veterans are highly likely to experience homelessness. Did you know? In 2019, 21 out of every 10,000 veterans were homeless. This number is slightly higher than the overall homeless rate, which is 17 out of every 10,000 Americans. Focus on promoting the Housing First Strategy and increasing the federal funding for veteran homelessness have helped to reduce the gap.

3. COVID and Recession Might Be a Setback

When it comes to help for homeless veterans, COVID has played a crucial role related to unemployment rates and eviction. Job losses have a crucial role to play regarding veterans’ homelessness. It is tough for the veterans to get employed once they are discharged. There are two categories that face challenges in the pandemic-hit job market – older adults and people with disabilities. People over 55 years are losing jobs quickly, and they are returning to work slower than middle-aged workers. These challenges have driven more veterans into homelessness while making it harder for them to get out.

4. We CAN End Homelessness Among Veterans

In the years leading up to the pandemic, homelessness among veterans was cut in half. Housing First strategy and government investments have helped in producing extraordinary results regarding help for homeless veterans. The combination is helpful for any veteran going through the issue of homelessness and any other people who are facing homelessness as well. If you are a veteran who is going through the issue of homelessness, we urge you to get in touch with us. We will help you with a housing solution in the best possible way.

No comments yet

Homelessness has been a significant problem in the US that defies easy solutions for several decades. According to US federal legislation, homeless people are those individuals who do not have a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence. They can’t lead a secure life without adequate veteran emergency housing assistance.

Thus, determining how many homeless people are there exactly remains a perennial problem. A significant part of the difficulty lies with the comparative invisibility of homeless people, who, for different safety reasons, often prefer to stay undercover to avoid criminal victimization or possible arrest.

The difficult phase of transition

From enrolling in health insurance plans to selecting a new source of employment, military service members face many unique challenges when transitioning from the military to civilian life. Yet many veterans do not receive adequate support or training t to navigate this transition. The risks can be dire for veterans struggling with economic constraints or mental health issues. It is estimated that over 40,000 US veterans are currently experiencing homelessness, representing a disproportionate segment of the entire homeless population in the United States.

Veterans of Color are more likely to experience homelessness

Veterans of color have the highest chance of being homeless. The native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander veterans are most at-risk—106 out of every 10,000 are homeless, despite their excellent service to this country. American Indians and Black people have similarly high numbers.

Significantly, all racial and ethnic minorities and subgroups have benefited from the movement to garner support for veteran emergency housing assistance. Especially for Black veterans, who experienced the most significant drop in homelessness (26 per cent) over the last five years, the movement helps to reduce disparities between them and other groups.

What are the causes of increased homelessness in Veterans?

The cause of homelessness can be tricky to pin down, as homelessness is much more complex. However, there are popularly accepted reasons for veteran homelessness, like PTSD and previous combat-related injuries. In addition, it is claimed that veterans share many of the similar risk factors of becoming homeless citizens in the country, such as substance abuse, low income, and severe mental disorders.

Are mental health issues a dominant reason behind homelessness

Unfortunately, the number of veterans left homeless due to mental health problems or economic struggles is also becoming more common in homeless populations. Many veterans find it challenging to transition into civilian life in general. While serving, camaraderie and a structure provide connection and purpose. So, when that just goes away, many struggle as they lose a very significant element of community and routine. Transitioning into life after service is also emotionally challenging, as veterans face the practical challenges of re-entering civilian life. One of the perks of service life is that many civilian responsibilities are taken care of throughout your career. Taking on the new responsibilities like finding a job or paying the rent and then the bills, can be overwhelming for the veterans as they adjust to a completely new way of life.

Different financial sectors also lead to veteran homelessness

The research also showed several risk factors involved that led to someone becoming homeless. These factors include being unemployed, experiencing extreme financial strain, dealing with a relationship breakdown, having severe mental health issues, having very less contact with family and friends, and sharing a more significant number of lifetime traumatic events. Though a degree of resilience is developed by many in service, the long-term impacts of post-combat trauma can be challenging, impacting a person’s capacity to interact, communicate and contribute to the well-being their family and community. Therefore, strong support networks are essential in keeping veterans mentally and emotionally well. In collaboration with friends and family, the veterans should be encouraged to access the support through their veteran support organization or health care professional.

It is practically possible to end veteran homelessness

In the years leading up to the deadly pandemic, veteran homelessness was cut roughly in to half. The US Interagency Council on Homelessness has recognized about 79 communities and three states ending it.

Since Housing First and government investments have always helped to produce such remarkable results, the combination can likely help any of the veterans driven into homelessness by the pandemic – and all other people experiencing homelessness.

No comments yet

Veterans that serve and protect our freedom deserve all the thanks and resources that we can offer them. Therefore, veteran housing is so crucial. Every veteran must have a safe living arrangement that meets their needs after they are discharged from active duty. Housing help for military veterans is a topic close to our heart. Thus, the objective of Habitat4Veterans is to do our part and help eliminate veteran homelessness in the U.S. We communicate with the local community leaders and bring the necessary resources and co-ordination needed to end homelessness among veterans.

However, it is crucial to remember that the issue is bigger than any single partnership. Fortunately, there are numerous resources and programs available. Therefore, the objective of this article is to help illuminate not just the options for the veterans who might find themselves unhoused but also help the disabled veterans to find the necessary resources to enhance the quality of life.

Veterans Housing Assistance for the Unhoused

For those who want to work on housing help for military veterans, the solution is simple and obvious. They need affordable and safe housing. Yes, there are resources required to make that happen, but that is the goal. Unfortunately, many people that become unhoused don’t get that way because of their own conscious choices.

For the veterans who are discharged from active duty, it is tough for them to return to normal life. Veterans share multiple risk factors for homelessness compared to the general population. This includes substance abuse and other forms of mental illness, social isolation, depression, and more. PTSD can also cause trouble for discharged veterans involved in the war.

Did you know? There were more than 5,80,000 unhoused individuals in the U.S. last year, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Report. Among those individuals, 37,252 were veterans. When it comes to housing help for the military, here are the following resources available.

HUD VA Supportive Housing

This program combines the housing choice vouchers offered by the HUD along with the clinical services offered by the local VA medical centers, community-based outreach clinics, and other VA designers or contractors. In this way, the veterans can receive the housing that they need for a stable life along with medical treatments.

HUD VA Supportive Housing is intended for veterans with extreme physical or mental health issues or substance use disorders who need community support. Since the housing is operated through HUD, they might also request an accommodation with a small service animal.

Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)

The Supportive Service for Veteran Families program helps low-income families who are either unhoused or are already at risk of homelessness; they will be supported with rapid rehousing and other categories to improve stability, like healthcare, daily living, and transportation services, among others.

Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH)

Speaking of housing help for the military, the armed forces retirement home is for senior veterans and their spouses. Among the eligibility criteria for the armed forces retirement home, the veteran must have served 20 years as an enlisted member, warrant officer, or a limited duty officer. The service time requirements can be waived if you have a VA disability rating of 50% or more. Among multiple services, the site offers assisted living, memory support, and long-term care. There is also on-site medical, dental, and vision care and physical and occupational therapy. The veterans’ homes will also have in-room cable, internet, and a full-service library.

No comments yet

It’s heartbreaking to see the men and women who have done a lot for years for the country end up feeling like their existence means so little – especially considering the trauma many have already lived through during their service. Supportive housing for veterans can be a great source of relief for them.

Many veterans who need support have also suffered life-changing injuries that can affect their ability to live independently. Add to this a relationship breakdown or loss of employment, and it’s not hard to see how someone lives on a knife edge.

Identify who are the deserving homeless veterans

Specialist support is available to veterans and their families, but many housing organizations don’t routinely ask every customer whether they – or a family member – have served in the Armed Forces. As a result, veterans are missing out on the support they’re entitled to. We recommend asking a mandatory question to ensure veterans are identified.

Review your crucial housing forms to ensure they ask the ‘veteran question.’ This may include your Housing Register form, homeless assessment form, referral form, new tenant form, or support planning documents.

Ensure your staff can explain why this question is being asked and understand its purpose.

Review your homelessness prevention strategies

Official guidance states that some people, including veterans, may be at particular risk of homelessness, and housing authorities should consider how to work effectively to prevent it among such groups and ensure that appropriate support is available.

Make sure your Homelessness Reviews and Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategies specifically consider the needs of veterans. In addition, they should understand the nature and extent of homelessness among veterans and their families and their more comprehensive housing and support needs.

Review your local Homelessness Forums/Alliances membership to include local veterans charities and organizations.

Consult with the Armed Forces Covenant when undertaking Homelessness Reviews and developing Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategies.

Ensure that Housing Strategies consider the housing needs of veterans where there is a locally identified need.

Homelessness prevention

As well as using the campaign resources, we encourage housing associations to develop close links with local authorities looking for Supportive housing for veterans.

Under the Homelessness Reduction Act, public bodies must refer anyone to a local authority if they are homeless or threatened with homelessness. However, housing associations are not bound by this obligation. We worked with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to develop the Commitment to Refer.

Financial resources to help homeless veterans

The VA offers a range of resources and services for veterans in different financial circumstances and stages of their lives, whether they’re newly transitioning to civilian life, undergoing a financial crisis, or have become homeless. These include:

• Home loans and mortgage delinquency assistance
• Fiduciary services
• Financial counseling for veterans and beneficiaries of claim payments
• Financial hardship assistance
• The Veterans Benefits Banking Program offers a secure way to receive and manage any financial benefits from the VA.
• Economic Investment (EI) Initiatives, which are region-specific events designed to connect veterans with economic resources such as benefits, job fairs, and other economic advancement opportunities
• Free online resources, including informational materials on how to avoid fraud and identity theft
• The Retirement and Financial Literacy Education Program (RFLEP) includes a suite of resources and tools such as a savings calculator, budget worksheet, money tips, guidelines on improving your credit score, and more.
• Housing programs and other resources for veterans experiencing homelessness

No comments yet

Did you know? Since 2010, the number of homeless veterans has reduced. However, every year, there are innumerable veterans who have to go through the issue of homelessness and other problems once they are discharged from active duty. Habitat4Veterans is on a mission to offer help for homeless veterans. Also, the collaboration of different departments like the Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Labor (DOL), and other faith-based homeless service providers that the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) represent. The mission to end homelessness among veterans has signaled a new era for the homeless veteran movement.

How to Get Help for the Homeless Veterans?

If you want to get help for homeless veterans, there are innumerable opportunities to expand and improve the services available to help homeless veterans, either as individuals or as a member group or organization. The best and most effective assistance is offered by the community-based organizations that work within local networks offering a wide array of services to continuing case management and counseling while the veteran proceeds through a detailed plan leading to self-sufficiency.

It is crucial to focus on the efforts to get help for homeless veterans. You can get in touch with Habitat4Veterans to help homeless veterans. We actively encourage individuals who want to make sure that the veterans receive an appropriate share of the resources that are available to address and prevent homelessness in the area. Here are some of the ways to get help for the homeless veterans.

1. Emergency Shelters – You can donate personal care items, clothing, food, or make cash contributions.
2. Volunteer as Counselors, Mentors, or Legal Advisors – Homeless veterans in permanent or transitional supportive housing, will need help in learning basic social life skills, and employment skills, including resume writing, interview techniques, and help with legal issues like discharge upgrades, VA benefits, consumer debt, bankruptcy, divorce, lord-tenant/eviction, child support, tax and more.
3. Volunteer at Stand Down Programs – These are two – to three-day events that offer homeless veterans a secure and community-like retreat to receive healthcare and personal hygiene services, food, clothing, employment referrals, housing, and VA benefits counseling – all in one location.

Ending veteran homelessness is our moral duty. This is a duty towards those who have served us. We cannot rest peacefully while the brave men and women that served to protect our communities experience homelessness with them. As we mentioned above, the different departments including Veterans Affairs, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Department of Labor, are committed to increase leadership, collaboration, and co-ordination among programs serving veterans going through homelessness and offering rapid access to permanent housing for all the veterans.

A declaration to end veteran homelessness doesn’t mean that there will not be another instance of homelessness among veterans. The unpredictability of life means that the veterans might face a housing crisis and experience homelessness. When homelessness is unpredictable, we must ensure that this instance is brief, nonrecurring, and a rapid return to housing. Habitats4Veterans offer landlords the opportunity to open the door to the veterans who are experiencing homelessness. Significant efforts have been invested in ending veteran homelessness, and providers are working together to find homes for veterans.

The landlords are a critical link to offering housing help for homeless veterans. If you are a landlord, we urge you to consider offering help to the veterans by offering subsidized rent to the homeless veterans. Visit Habitats4Veterans today!

No comments yet

Did you know that one in ten homeless Americans is a veteran? That’s more than 40,000 veterans without secure housing. The number of women among them is rising, per the US Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH). Veterans make up more than a tenth of people facing housing insecurity. Among them, about 20,690 veterans rely on shelters or transitional housing. The remaining 15,366 are unsheltered, living in cars or on the streets. By providing housing for veterans, these people can find the right ways to live a life of dignity.

Housing crises can occur for various reasons, including high housing costs, low availability of affordable housing, economic downturns, and natural disasters. In addition, housing crises can severely impact individuals and families, including homelessness, increased poverty, and decreased access to health care and other critical services.

Communities need to address housing crises by providing housing for veterans through short-term and long-term solutions, including increasing the supply of affordable housing, providing financial assistance to individuals and families in need, and strengthening economic stability through job creation and economic development. In addition, collaboration between government, non-profit organizations, and the private sector is crucial to successfully addressing housing crises and helping individuals and families maintain stable, secure housing.

How can we fix the shortage of affordable housing?

Fixing a shortage of affordable housing is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach. However, here are some strategies that can be used to multiply the supply of affordable housing:

Increase funding for affordable housing development

Governments can allocate more budget to developing affordable housing, which can help increase the supply of affordable units. This can include funding for the construction of new affordable housing units and the rehabilitation of existing units.

Encourage private sector involvement

The private sector can also play a prominent role in increasing the supply of affordable housing by developing and building new affordable units and rehabilitating existing units. In addition, governments can incentivize private sector involvement by offering tax credits, subsidies, and other incentives.

Implement inclusionary zoning policies

The inclusionary zoning policies require developers to include a certain percentage of relatively affordable units in new housing developments. These policies can help increase the supply of affordable housing and ensure that new housing developments are accessible to people at various income levels.

Promote innovative financing strategies

Innovative financing strategies, such as public-private partnerships, can be used to secure funding for affordable housing development and increase the supply of affordable units.

Preserve existing affordable housing

It is also important to preserve existing affordable housing units, which can risk being lost to gentrification, redevelopment, or disrepair. Governments can use tools such as rent control, eviction protection, and the acquisition of existing units to help preserve affordable housing.

Address zoning barriers

Zoning regulations and other land use policies can create barriers to affordable housing development. However, governments can review and revise these policies to ensure they do not impede affordable housing development.

Fixing a shortage of affordable housing requires a collaborative effort by governments, non-profit organizations, and the private sector. By combining these strategies, communities can increase the supply of affordable housing and help ensure that all individuals and families have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing.

No comments yet

Poverty and affordable housing are among the most significant and widespread risk factors for homelessness. According to National Low Income Housing Coalition or NLIHC, the absence of available and affordable rental residences in the United States has reached 7.3 million. For example, data in Florida shows only 23 available and reasonably priced rental homes for every 100 low-income household.

This can mean real trouble for veterans, especially those who are unemployed due to a military service-related disability or mental health conditions or those who are having difficulty transitioning back to civilian life and finding a job. Fortunately, the VA offers help for homeless veterans through veterans housing assistance programs to help the qualifying veterans build, keep, or improve their homes and rental assistance designed to help homeless veterans.

What Services Are Available?

Different types of support and help are available depending on the needs of the veterans and their situation.

The VA home loan program helps the veterans, current service members, and their surviving family members obtain loans for buying, building, improving, or refinancing a home. Veteran home loans often come with lower down payments or better terms than loans from other entities.

The Dept. of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program offers rental assistance in the form of housing vouchers, case management, and supportive services to homeless veterans. Available services include helping families find and maintain permanent housing, mental health and substance use counseling, and other forms of support.

Who Is Eligible for Help?

To be eligible for the veteran housing assistance, individuals must meet the following requirements:

• You’re eligible for a VA direct or VA-backed veterans home loan program if you didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge and meet the minimal service requirements.
• For the service members, that’s at least 90 days of active-duty service continuously.
• For veterans, the service requirements will depend on when they have served.
• Note that even if the veterans are deemed eligible based on the specified requirements above, participants in this assistance program will still require to be approved based on their income and credit.
• Participants must also be homeless veterans and family members referred to participating public housing authorities (PHAs) by partnering with VA medical centers or community-based outpatient clinics for the HUD-VASH Program.
• The PHAs screen participants based on their income eligibility, and citizenship, and if they are subject to a requirement of lifetime registration under a state sex offender registration program.

Getting Started

Veterans who think they might be eligible for veteran housing assistance, must take the following the first steps:

To get a Veteran Assistance home loan, participants must first to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) that ascertains they meet the requirements. You can request a COE online, through your lender, or by mail.

A veteran who is homeless or at the risk of becoming homeless and looking for support through the HUD-VASH program, contact your local VA medical center.

Habitat4Veterans seeks to eliminate homelessness among veterans nationwide. It takes a proactive, intervention-based approach to offer help for homeless veterans by meeting the deserving homeless veterans find mortgage-free homes for peramanent residence. It helps homeless veterans get the supplies they need to survive, connects them with support and resources, and allows them to transition off the streets and into temporary or permanent housing. If you can, consider supporting our mission by donating or signing on as a volunteer.

No comments yet

On the surface, it may seem tempting to blame homelessness on specific causes like a lack of affordable housing. But the reality is that homelessness is much more complex, and finding help for homeless vets is even more complicated.

For example, a study shows the number of people who are homeless interestingly tends to be proportionally higher in places in states where home prices are higher. With that in mind, some people may conclude that reducing home prices is all needed to end homelessness. But that is the case for civilians. What about homeless veterans? The underlying complexity behind the problem of veteran homelessness in America makes it one of the most serious.

Tracing the roots of homelessness is crucial

Some unhoused citizens, including veterans, would likely benefit from finding more affordable housing facilities in their area. Several homeless people are in this state because of additional challenges like substance abuse, trauma, or mental or physical illness and also due to serving long years in the military, just like the case of veterans.

Not only do we have to find comfortable places for those without homes to live a saf life, but we must also take steps to address the nonfinancial reasons of why people are on the streets.

Building more cost-effctive housing and reallocating some empty homes to those who need them are essential tools in combating poverty. But without taking into account the social elements of homelessness, the problem is unlikely ever to be resolved.

Tips for those who may be facing homelessness

Although some people can become homeless without any fault of their own, in a difficult situation they can keep the following tips in mind to reduce their chance of becoming homeless:

Apply for low-income housing

Several low-income housing options are available from different organizations, like the HUD and local housing authorities throughout the country. By sapplying to rent or buy these low-income homes, you can avoid better losing your house. In addition, getting approval to live in low-income housing can be quite competitive and time-consuming, so the sooner you start looking for such low-income housing, the more likely you are to be able to find and secure it.

Ask your landlord about mortgage or lease modification options

If you’re experiencing significant financial hardship and finding that you’re falling behind on the rent or mortgage payments, you might be able to have your mortgage terms modified. For instance, a mortgage modification can allow you to minimize the cost of your mortgage payment by increasing the tenure of your loan’s repayment period or lowering your interest rate. While everyone will not be able to get the terms of their lease or mortgage modified, those who do may be at a lesser risk of losing their home.

Make a plan to keep at the peak of your housing costs

Planning for housing expenses carefully using tools like mortgage calculators can help homeowners to avoid putting themselves in a situation where they risk being defaulters of their mortgage and becoming homeless. Though even the best-laid plans can sometimes still go haywire, the more you know how much you can afford to spend on housing, and the better you keep to a budget, the less likely you’ll find yourself without a home.

If you are a veteran looking for housing support, visit us at https://habitat4veterans.us/.

No comments yet

Numerous veterans face difficulties for a long time in their lives, and most of the time, it leads them to lose their homes, thus, leading them to become destitute. Every veteran’s story is unique, including their requirements to assist them in getting safe and secure housing. Every veteran has gone through a different struggle during their younger ages, serving the people and the country without any difference.

They were always there for us at any time of the day or night, leaving their personal preferences and family behind. Our duty and responsibility is to give back to them when they need us. The veterans experience the ill effects of mental and physical illness. Therefore, we must reimburse their penance with care and respect. A lot of veterans are homeless without support from any friends or family. Therefore, it is crucial to help them immediately.

Ending homelessness amongst veterans includes the collaboration of the government and community partners that can identify and address the risk factors for homelessness. Veterans’ shelter is the best way to help veterans immediately.

Veterans’ Shelter – The Benefits for Homeless Veterans

In general, homeless veterans are eligible for a wide array of benefits from the Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA offers various services for homeless veterans, from housing assistance offering veterans shelter to mental and physical health assistance. Here is a checklist of housing assistance for homeless veterans.

1. Homeless Providers Grant Per Diem Program

The Homeless Providers Grant Per Diem Program by Veterans Affairs offers grants and per diem payments. In addition, funding is available to help non-profit organizations and the public to help in establishing and operating supportive housing and service centres for homeless veterans.

2. HUD-VA Supportive Housing (VASH) Program 

The VASH program is a joint effort between the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the VA. Regarding veterans’ shelters, HUD allocated almost 38,000 “housing choice” section 8 vouchers across the country. These vouchers allow the veterans and their families to live in the rental units at the market rate while the VA will offer case management services. Also, a housing subsidy is paid to the landlord on behalf of the participating veteran. Therefore, the veteran will pay the difference between the actual rent of the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program.

3. Acquired Property Sales for Homeless Providers Program

The VA’s Acquired Property Sales for Homeless Providers Program brings all the VA foreclosed properties for sale to homeless provider organizations at a 20 to 50% discount to shelter the homeless veterans.

4. Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program

The Veterans Affairs Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program offers grants and technical assistance to community-based non-profit organizations to help veterans and their beloved families stay in their homes.

5. Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans (DCHV) Program 

The VA’s DCHV program offers medical services to veterans from the civil war. Currently, the DCHV program uses modern medical techniques within a residential setting for 24 hours and seven days. Thus, it supports the veterans to live fulfilling, independent and healthy lives. In addition, there are veterans’ medical health facilities with comprehensive inpatient assessment, treatment and rehabilitation programs, specifically for homeless veterans.

6. Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams (H-PACTs) Program

Regarding veterans’ shelters, the VA’s H-PACTs Program offers a coordinated “medical home” tailored explicitly according to the needs of the homeless veterans that integrates clinical care and the delivery of social services. Also, the veterans will have enhanced access and community coordination. This model will address a lot of health disparity and equity issues. Thus, it will reduce the emergency use of the department for hospitalizations, improve chronic disease management, enhance the process of “housing readiness”, and lead to lesser veterans facing homelessness once they are housed.

No comments yet

Whether a combatant or not, when a serviceman or woman is deployed, they are thrown into a hypersensitive and hyper-stressed environment with the same people day in and day out.
Before you understand what a veteran experiences when they return home, you have to know what they go through when they are over there. They even do not find a place they can call ‘home’ 90% of the time after their retirement leading to a surge in the number of homeless veterans. So, it makes it urgently necessary to provide housing for homeless veterans in the USA.

A day in the life of military deployment

Residual stress from deployment is every day, especially combat deployment. As a result, day-to-day interactions among the soldiers in combat are often harsh. This lack of gentleness or a commonly observed hard demeanor — practically demanded of them — can be challenging to change once home. In turn, the result can also be unwarranted aggression or unprovoked outbursts, as this transition is an extra stressor and irritant to these post-war individuals.
Veterans, especially younger ones, are sometimes trying to figure out how to communicate with their friends and families. But, a lot is left bottled up, probably because they don’t think their loved ones will understand or fear what they might say and how they’ll say it.

Several mental health problems seem to loom large

The US Department of Veteran Affairs has observed that “almost all service members will react after returning, but these behaviors and feelings are again expected. With the mental health issues that impact those who have served this nation becoming more widely observed, veterans often need help. Though challenging, most veterans bounce back successfully without any problems, while others suffer a lot.
Some may easily transition between their two worlds; however, some don’t acclimate. Veterans often deal with severe mental and psychological health issues and succumb to alcohol or drugs to cope, and even though commonly seen, they frequently go ignored in our society.

How can you help?

Several non-government and volunteering organizations have been offering targeted veterans’ assistance programs. Specifically, we’re committed to ending veteran homelessness within the country. As the leading assistance provider to homeless veterans, Habitat4Veterans helps deserving former men and women in uniform to find homes and permanent housing facilities free of mortgage charges. With this support, we can continue to try to give our veteran heroes the honest services and treatment they deserve to live the life they deserve. You can become an essential part of the services, programs, and therapy reaching thousands of veterans nationwide by joining us as a donor or sponsor, helping the veterans find a comfortable home. But your impact goes further beyond that – you’re giving veterans the way to lead respectable, dignified lives. You’re giving veterans the hope they need for a brighter future.

No comments yet

Homelessness amongst US veterans has been a focus of research for decades. Housing help for veterans is crucial. Now, before we get into the details of the causes of homelessness for US veterans, let us have a brief idea on the causes of homelessness.

There is no denying the fact that homelessness is devastating, isolating, and dangerous. It can primarily cause mental health issues and depression, leading to suicide. One of the primary reasons for homelessness is the inability to pay the rent. Other reasons include life events like unemployment, losing a relationship, mental or physical health problems, substance abuse or people under considerable strain.

Being homeless, it becomes harder to resolve the above-mentioned issues, especially when you are a war veteran who was a designated rank holder. Thus, housing help for veterans is so much important.

The Common Risk Factors Associated with the Veterans Homeless Community

Did you know? In the US, more than half a million people don’t have a secure home. The pandemic enhanced the risk factors associated with homelessness for veterans. Thus, the veteran population has been the most vulnerable when it comes to homelessness. Thus, housing help for veterans is imperative.

As stated by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, six complex factors are associated with homelessness for veterans. In the following section of the blog, we will explore the risk factors related to homeless veterans.

1. Transition Stress – After leaving the military, the veterans shift from a structured and disciplined environment to a less organized civilian life. The veterans become responsible for managing their responsibilities, time, and mental health challenges. Thus, it can cause extreme stress and affect the veteran’s ability to manage the transition.
2. No Family and Social Network Support – When it comes to housing help for veterans, veterans need social connections to live a civilian life just like any of us. The veterans have become accustomed to the network of military social support that offers them the proper resources while in service. Unfortunately, after leaving the military, many people don’t have the same support network; without them, some lack family and social connections to lean on in times of need. Therefore, they might struggle to create a network of support in the civilian world. This leads to isolation, social anxiety, and low self-esteem. Thus, housing help for veterans plays a crucial role in offering them a sense of family and community.
3. Substance Abuse & Mental Health Challenges – Many veterans are exposed to highly traumatizing events during active duty. The effects of those events lead them to the civilian world. To eliminate such traumatic memories, the veterans might lean towards substance abuse and mental health challenges like PTSD, a mental health condition that traumatic life events can trigger. Those who suffer from substance abuse and mental health challenges have a much harder time finding and keeping jobs. Per the reports of the Department of Veteran Affairs, the presence of mental disorders like substance disorders and mental illness is the primary predictor of homelessness after discharge from active duty.
4. Lack of Transferrable Work Experience & Professional Network – Military experience, training, and expertise is not always valued in the civilian workforce. Even though the service members have the opportunity to receive the degrees while they are on active duty and can apply to use the GI Bill Benefits (or VR&E) for obtaining higher education, most of the experience that military personnel gain in the military doesn’t transfer to the civilian job requirements. The housing help for veterans also helps guide veterans to get trained for a job.

No comments yet

Helping the nation’s heroes is not only the countrymen’s responsibility but also a part of their duty towards the country. Because of our veterans who served in the army, we could stay and live peacefully during troubled times at the borders. Therefore, when a veteran retires or is released from his/her duty, we must ensure that the veteran gets the life they deserve. This is where the help for homeless veterans comes in.

 The Issues Faced by Veterans After their Release

There is no denying that it is tough to be in the military. The life that follows after joining the military is not just tough, but it is very much different from the life of a civilian. Every veteran, during their service, has gone through innumerable psychological trauma. That affects them for quite a long time, even after they have retired from the services. Therefore, it is not easy for a veteran to return to civilian life.

Also, another crucial aspect that veterans have to deal with is homelessness. Why? Firstly, it is tough for military personnel to start a family. Secondly, years after they retire from the services, it becomes difficult to run a family and maintain a house due to insufficient finances. Thus, help for homeless veterans is so much important.

Apart from homelessness, there are numerous issues faced by veterans. In the following section of the blog, we shall discuss the checklist of the veterans’ issues after they are released from their services.

Unemployment

Once a veteran is released from their duty, it’s tough for them to find a job. The primary reason is most people join the military right after high school. Thus, they get very few chances at higher education. They don’t have the educational qualification required for specific jobs. As a result, it becomes tough for them to maintain a house and the household. Thus, help for homeless veterans is crucial because the Veteran’s Administration can help the veterans struggling to find a job.

Relationship with Themselves

There is no denying the fact that veterans do a noble service by serving their country. However, many still find it hard to experience a sense of purpose and identity because of the low self-esteem issues since they don’t hold titles and ranks anymore.

Physical Health & Injury

A lot of veterans have to sustain an injury during combat. These include amputations, scars, and disfigurement. With such physical injuries, it becomes too troublesome for them to find a home. Thus, help for homeless veterans is crucial because they need it.

Poor Mental Health

Along with being physically handicapped, poor mental health also plays a crucial role in the life of a veteran. How? Most veterans go through PTSD and depression. Thus, suicide rates are higher among veterans. Unable to find a home adds a lot to this mental burden. Also, they don’t feel comfortable opening up about their mental health issues because of the social stigma attached. The cost of treatment becomes a barrier too! Thus, help for homeless veterans plays a crucial role for them.

Some Final Words

These are the significant issues a veteran goes through once they retire. However, we can see that the primary concern is veterans’ homelessness, which is the root cause of other issues, including poor mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, low self-esteem, and more. At Habitats4Veterans, we are a platform that brings together the veterans and the people who are committed to helping our country’s veterans. We encourage the property owners to lease/rent their property at a subsidized value for our veterans. Also, if you are a veteran seeking help for homelessness for veterans, get in touch with us!

No comments yet

For very low-income Veterans, SSVF offers case management and supportive services to prevent the lurking loss of a former military’s home, identify a new, more ideal housing situation for the individual and their family, or rapidly re-house them and their homeless families who might remain homeless without this assistance.

An overview

The Section 604 of the Veterans’ Mental Health & Other Care Improvements Act of 2008, in Public Law 110-387, empowered VA to create the SSVF Program. Grants for supportive services have been awarded to a few selected private, non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives that are more likely to assist very low-income families of veterans residing in or transitioning to permanent housing. Grantees will provide various support services to eligible Veteran families designed to promote housing stability.
SSVF is different from other VA programs as it provides services to the entire family and the Veteran. Eligible program participants may thus be either single Veterans or their families in which the spouse is the head of the household and is a Veteran. This capability allows SSVF to assist family members that can aid the Veteran’s entire home. For instance, SSVF can help a Veteran’s disabled partner gain employment and benefits, bringing additional income into the household. Similarly, children can be linked to needed childcare services that permit parents to seek and keep jobs. Such assistance to family members can also be vital in resolving the housing crisis for veterans, helping keep families intact, and preventing the traumatization and long-term consequences of youth homelessness.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for SSVF, Veteran families must have low incomes and be either homeless or imminently at risk of homelessness. Additionally, SSVF prioritizes assistance for certain target populations. For grants awarded in FY 2020, these priorities were the following:
• Veteran families earning less than 30 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI)
• Veterans with at least one dependent family member
• Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan
• Veteran families located in a community not currently served by an SSVF grantee
• Veteran families located in a community where the current level of SSVF services is not sufficient to meet the demand of currently homeless Veteran families
• Veteran families located in rural areas or on Indian tribal property

Emergency Housing Assistance

The provision of up to 45 days of temporary housing for a Veteran family with dependents (up to 72 hours for a single Veteran) does not require the participant to sign a lease or occupancy agreement. The cost must be, at most, the reasonable community standard for such housing. Emergency housing is limited to short-term commercial residences (private residences are not eligible for such funding) not already funded to provide on-demand emergency shelters (such as emergency congregate shelters).

Department Of Veterans Affairs’ supportive services for veteran families

i. An individual or Veteran family with a primary night time residence in a public or private place not built for or used as a regular sleeping accommodation for people, including a car, a park, an abandoned building, a bus or train station, an airport, or even a camping ground;
ii. An individual or family living in a publicly or privately operated shelter specifically designed to provide non-permanent living arrangements supervised;
iii. An individual exiting an institution where s/he resided for 90 days or less and resided in an emergency shelter not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution.
Let us together work towards supporting the homeless veterans of this great nation! Visit http://habitat4veterans.us/ for more details.

No comments yet

There is no denying the fact that veterans have done so much for our country. They mean so much to this country’s past, present, and future. Regardless of the military service they once belonged to – the Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Navy, or Air Force – they embody what this country fights for. Unfortunately, history has repeatedly shown that our military service personnel are not treated with dignity and respect. Once they are no longer part of the military, they struggle to support their families; they struggle to support themselves and live happy lives.

They don’t have the necessary job training, proper health care, housing assistance, employment opportunities, enough resources and other benefits and support services that other people have. Innumerable veterans are homeless and starving on the lonely and cold streets. All these reasons are good enough to provide housing for veterans.

Ensuring Proper Housing for Veterans

Our veterans need help now more than ever. The number of homeless veterans is too many, and if we don’t join hands to provide housing for veterans, they may not have the means to sustain a quality life. That’s where Habitats4veterans comes in. We connect homeless veterans with the best resources available to get affordable housing. Every veteran deserves a home. Our objective is to eliminate homelessness amongst veterans by ensuring that the veterans get a free house with no mortgage.

The U.S. Government and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs have a wide array of programs designed to help veterans find permanent housing. Veteran homelessness has been a real problem in this country for a long time. It is slowly getting better. It decreased by 50% from 2010 to 2019, but the number of homeless veterans is still alarming. This means we still have got a long way to go! A new report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development shows that the number of homeless veterans at risk of homelessness increased in 2020. Currently, 6% of the country’s population are veterans and 8% of the country’s homeless population.

Housing Assistance Reduces the Number of Homeless Veterans

Veterans experiencing homelessness is a real problem, but it will not fix itself. It is something that requires the help of people like you and me. That’s why providing housing for veterans is so much important because it is something that works. As we stated above, housing assistance helped reduce the number of homeless veterans by 50% from 2010 to 2019. But it also increased in 2020. A large part of that is due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and something like that should not discourage us from continuing to help the veterans.

Providing Housing for Veterans Reduces the Risk of Mental Illness

Many researchers and scientists agree that mental illness and homelessness are connected. This is due to the stress, isolation, anxiety, lack of food, sleep and social interaction that comes with homelessness. The mental health issues that relate to homelessness include bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder and substance abuse disorder. Therefore, providing housing for veterans is essential to maintain their mental health and reduce the risk of mental illness.

Let Us Help Our Veterans Get Back on their Feet

Being homeless impacts every aspect of your life, not just your mental health. It makes it hard to find job opportunities, maintain physical health, and impact social and social life. This is a vicious cycle that eats you alive. When you provide housing for military veterans, you give them a sense of stability in their life. It gives them the confidence to turn their life around and helps them to get back on their feet.

No comments yet

Veterans are at a disproportionately high risk of experiencing homelessness – there is no doubt that. Yes, they only represent only 7 percent of the public, but this accounts for 10% of the total homeless population in the USA. Presently, the new solutions for affordable housing fused with health care and mental health services are deployed throughout the country to help eliminate the issue. Here is everything to know about permanent housing for veterans.

A Housing-First Approach to Permanent Housing for Veterans

Permanent housing for veterans takes several forms depending on the community’s specific needs of the community, and permanent supportive housing is defined as the “model which combines low-barrier affordable housing, supportive services, and healthcare services to help individuals and families lead a much more stable life. According to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC), this is the definition. The approach to reducing veteran homelessness started with the transitional models where veterans who are experiencing homelessness needed to complete short-term residential rehabilitation and treatment programs before moving into permanent housing.

The US Department of Veteran Affairs has recently created a movement towards a reimagined “housing first” model of permanent supportive housing. This prioritizes placing individuals in permanent housing for veterans without them requiring pursuing mental health treatment, addiction care or financial advising. The housing-first model has become increasingly popular in recent years because a large body of evidence suggests it might be more effective in permanently reducing homelessness.

The Different Types of Permanent Housing for Veterans

When it is about the PSH model, the individuals are housed in one of three options – single-site, scattered-site, and mixed housing. With purpose-built or single-site housing, the entire apartment complex is designed in such a way that it can house homeless veterans with specific service needs. In the mixed housing model, the property owners or managers hold up a set number of units to lease to the formerly homeless tenants. On the other hand, scattered-site housing is a model where formerly homeless people can lease units from private landlords along with rental subsidy vouchers.

According to past research, it has been observed that the scattered-site approach is the most preferred option for many people transitioning out of homelessness because it offers individuals more privacy and freedom to choose how they live. However, more research is needed on veteran-specific permanent housing models to understand if some veterans prefer communal living identical to a military service experience.

Also, the scattered-site approach is particularly beneficial to homeless veterans who can use the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program to obtain subsidies on housing units of their choice. The HUD-VASH program comes with Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance for homeless veterans with access to the VA’s case management and clinical services.

Benefits of Permanent Housing for Veterans

A lot of permanent supporting housing programs include wraparound services. This is an approach to care where multiple service providers like nurses, social workers, primary care physicians’ occupational therapists and others collaborate to offer much more comprehensive mental, physical, and behavioural health care to the veteran. The permanent supportive housing models and services are designed initially to support people with multiple mental, physical, or behavioural health issues.

The veterans are at increased risk of traumatic brain injuries, addiction, PTSD, and other health complications. Therefore, wraparound services can offer critical care and empower them to enjoy a better quality of life.

We at Habitat4Veterans, are on a mission to reduce homelessness. Our objective is to connect homeless veterans with the best possible resources for affordable housing. Get in touch with us today for more details.

No comments yet

There are thousands of veterans in the USA who are facing the biggest problem of homelessness. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reports that veterans represent about 8% of the nation’s population experiencing homelessness. This means they are about 1.5 million veterans who are exposed to homelessness.
We all owe a debt of gratitude to the brave men and women who have proudly served in our nation’s defense forces. Without the sacrifice and dedication of our veterans, we would not be the free and prosperous country we are today. Yet, with our economy and the job market still struggling, veterans often find themselves in credit trouble, just like many of us. In such a situation extending housing help to veterans can be the biggest support for their safe future.

How does homelessness affect the veterans?

Many states across the U.S. successfully combat homelessness and drive down the number of vets in precarious housing situations. A large percentage of veterans are still experiencing housing insecurity.
• Veterans constitute only 10% of the population of the United States, but they are about 8% of the country’s homeless population.
• Black veterans constitute about one-third of the total number of former defense personnel experiencing homelessness.
• Almost one-third of all veterans experiencing homelessness in America live in California.
• Twenty-eight states saw a slowing down in the total number of veterans experiencing homelessness from 2019 to 2020.

The horrifying reasons behind veteran homelessness

As explained by The National Coalition of Homeless Veterans, there is a complex set of factors involved in veterans’ homelessness, such as an extreme shortage of affordable housing, difficulty finding and obtaining a livable income, and access to health care. Additionally, many displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, and moral injury.
Military training and experience are also not always transferable to the civilian way of life and workforce, placing some veterans at a disadvantage when competing for employment. Therefore, a top priority for homeless veterans is secure, safe, clean housing that offers a supportive environment free of drugs and alcohol. Therefore, housing help to veterans is something they need urgently.

Resources for more housing help

Able-bodied vets might fit with one of the many programs available to moderate or low-income homebuyers, first-time homebuyers, and buyers in redevelopment areas. These include Mortgage Credit Certificates (MCCs), which refund part of the mortgage interest paid by qualified homebuyers, down payment assistance (DPA) programs, and programs that help with closing costs, such as the Military Housing Assistance Fund. In addition, various state programs help veterans with housing-related expenses. One of the best resources available for vets looking to buy or build a home is the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). However, all of these facilities require the veterans to at least pay a bare minimum deposit fee or rent, which sometimes becomes very challenging for them. That is where you and I together can help.
As the nation grapples with an escalating affordable housing crisis, Habitat4Veterans is committed to making sure housing for veterans is part of the solution. We assist qualified veterans in getting access to free-of-cost housing facilities. If you are a property owner willing to do your bit by donating it to housing a homeless veteran and his or her family, connect with us today!

No comments yet