Drop in Veteran Homelessness Offers Lessons

In an op-ed in Next City, Beth Sandor explains how cities have managed to reduce veteran homelessness despite a rise in the overall unhoused population — and what lessons these strategies offer for solving the broader crisis.

According to Sandor, 12 U.S. communities have achieved “functional zero” veteran homelessness. “The hallmarks of these successes in reducing veteran homelessness — including data, funding, and the power of coordination — provide a roadmap for U.S. communities to make homelessness rare and brief for everyone.”

Sandor writes that accurate data about unhoused residents is the first step in understanding people’s needs. “The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a good starting point by knowing each unhoused veteran that accesses its services — including names, demographic data, locations, health conditions, types of services received and needs beyond housing, such as psychiatric care or legal help.” Similar systems for all unhoused people could help allocate resources more effectively.

In addition to more robust funding, programs aimed at reducing veteran homelessness also benefit from deeper collaboration across levels of government and political parties. “That same cross-party buy-in is necessary for reducing homelessness across all populations.”

Sandor concludes, “The path forward is an understanding of each person experiencing homelessness — and the financial resources and collaboration that can bring each person home.”