Too many Veterans are surviving in places not meant for human habitation—under bridges, in parked cars, or in encampments tucked out of sight. They deserve more than survival. They deserve a path home. To help make that a reality, VA has launched “Getting Veterans Off the Street”—a nationwide initiative focused on reaching and housing Veterans experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
Every VA medical center is hosting at least one outreach event between now and Sept. 30, 2025, to move unsheltered Veterans into interim or permanent housing.
What is unsheltered homelessness?
In contrast to sheltered homelessness, where people live in emergency shelters and other temporary settings, unsheltered homelessness refers to people sleeping outdoors in public spaces like streets, parks or under bridges, or in locations not meant for habitation, like vehicles, tents or abandoned buildings.
Unsheltered homelessness is one of the most dangerous situations a person can face. It can severely harm one’s whole health: mind, body and soul. When a Veteran is unsheltered, there’s no time to delay getting them to a safe place and quickly on a path to permanent, stable housing.
Outreach with intention
During these events, VA and our partners go out into our communities all across America to find unsheltered Veterans wherever they are (e.g., in encampments, on the streets, in the woods, under bridges) to offer them immediate enrollment in housing programs, health care, behavioral health services and VA benefits—all in real time.
Why now?
A persistent gap: While overall Veteran homelessness has declined within the last year, too many Veterans still lack safe shelter. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2024 Point-in-Time Count, the number of unsheltered Veterans went from 15,507 in 2023 to 13,851 in 2024. Despite the decrease, this remains unacceptably high.
Danger to health: People experiencing unsheltered homelessness have more significant health issues than those who are sheltered and struggle to access health care and essential medical supplies, including health records, documents and medications. Moreover, many also lack basic hygiene resources, causing them to face a greater risk of contracting infectious diseases.
First of its kind: While communities have conducted housing surges, which focus on efforts to move unsheltered and sheltered Veterans into permanent housing, this is a new focus on reaching out to unsheltered Veterans at the start of their recovery journey. And although VA and others have conducted pilot projects to improve outreach to unsheltered Veterans—most notably in Denver, CO, which saw a nearly 40% decrease in unsheltered Veterans from their 2025 PIT Count—no one has ever conducted surge events at this scale.
No wrong door
Whether a Veteran is coming in from the cold or finally asking for help after years in the shadows, we’re here. We know the ultimate goal is permanent housing, but sometimes the first step is a warm bed, a ride to the clinic, or someone simply saying, “You’re not alone.” That’s why we’re working with communities to expand emergency options and fast-track all Veterans—especially those most at risk—into safe, stable housing.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Every Veteran’s journey is different. And that’s why we’re here—to walk with them wherever they’re starting from.
If you or someone you know is a Veteran experiencing homelessness, call our confidential 24/7 hotline: 877-424-3838. Because you served—and we’re here to serve you.
Learn about VA programs
- If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at risk for homelessness or need to connect with a Veterans justice outreach specialist, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838.
- Visit the VA Homeless Programs website to learn about housing initiatives and other programs for Veterans exiting homelessness.
- Learn how to get involved with housing homeless Veterans.
Author: nikkiverbeck