Transcript Slide 1
Total percentage decline between 2005 (15,420) and 2009 (6,540): 58% *Los Angeles Housing Service Authority (2007), Figure 2, page 5. ** Los Angeles Housing Service Authority (2009), Table 3, p.2 Combating Veteran Homelessness It will take all of us Homeless Veterans ”…we will provide new help for homeless Veterans because those heroes have a home—it’s the country they served, the United States of America. And until we reach a day when not a single Veteran sleeps on our nation's streets, our work remains unfinished.” - President Barack Obama, March 16, 2009 General Shinseki on Homeless Veterans “You see, to get to zero, we have to attack the entire cycle of downward spirals that end in homelessness — the last step in the loss of hope. We can't solve it, at the state or national levels, unless we attack jobs and education, health care and substance abuse, depression and suicides and housing.” (2009) “When I arrived in VA I began teaching myself to say ‘Veterans lead the Nation in homelessness, depression, substance abuse, and suicides. And they rank right up there in joblessness as well.” it was a punch in the gut for me and I repeated that line until it sunk in.” (2010) “Resources alone won’t end Veteran homelessness—people will. Determined, dedicated risk-takers who know the causes; who know what may work and what definitely won’t; and, who know how to deliver a mission that’s complex, complicated, rife with bureaucracy, and historically long on promises and short on delivery.” (2010) Homeless Veterans* 75,609 Homeless Veterans in the U.S. 25.9% of all homeless Veterans reside in CA. 14.9 % of all homeless reside in California * Data from the Veterans Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (2009) Homeless Veterans in Southern California Site Los Angeles/Long Beach Loma Linda San Diego VISN 22 Total Estimate of Estimate of Homeless Homeless Veterans in Veterans in Service Area Service Area FY 2011 FY 2009 8,197* 1,588 1,800 11,585 1649 *It is estimated there are 8,197 homeless Veterans total in the service area shared by VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and VA Long Beach Medical Center Who are California Homeless Veterans? Fiscal Year 2010 Northern Southern VA California California San Diego (V21) (V22) # of New homeless seen 2,125 4,226 1462 Age 52 50.9 50.2 Vietnam Era 39% 33.7% 33% Post Vietnam 40% 40% 29% Persian Gulf 19.3% 21.8% 23% OEF/OIF 5.1% 7.1% 13% Homeless Veterans Health Issues Medical Problems-47% Alcohol- 52.2% Drugs-50.7% Substance Use- 74% Serious Psychiatric-57% 50% homeless more than 2 years VASDHS Homeless Program OUTREACH Transitional Housing Grant and Per Diem Program-508 beds VA Supportive Housing- 590 units Recuperative Beds- 17 Veteran Treatment Court-VJO VA Homeless Prevention VA Domiciliary- opening 2012 California has 15.6% of the nation’s VASH Vouchers VASH Vouchers 5000 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 4680 3450 1660 VISN #21 VISN #22 California California has 24.4% of all Grant Per Diem Beds in the Country GPD Beds 3500 2929 3000 2500 2000 2000 GPD Beds 1500 1000 929 500 0 VISN #21 VISN #22 California Calls to National Homeless Hotline* 877- 424-3838 160 140 120 100 No. Cal (21) 80 So. Cal (22) 60 40 20 0 Oct-10 Nov-11 Dec 10 Jan-11 Feb-11 Mar-11 * 5/10 a 24/7 National Homeless Hotline went live. 591 calls from California have been received since 10/10 Partnering to end homelessness Collaboration in Motion None of us can do this on our own. We need each other. In working with homeless veterans, we must enter into partnerships with both the public/private sector because no one agency or government agency alone can meet all of their needs. Homeless veterans need treatment, work, housing and a support system offered in a manner that is comprehensive, coordinated and integrated. Three P’s to Go Forward 1. Prevention-Providing services to prevent Veterans and their families from experiencing the first night of homelessness 2. Expanding Partnerships-Building on the successful strategy that has made it possible to reduce Veteran homelessness 3. Perseverance-Staying the course along with our community partners until the last homeless Veteran is off the street. For more information on Veteran Services www.va.gov Link to services provided by the VA Homeless programs http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS Clay M. King, LICSW, FACHE Chief, Social Work Service VA San Diego, CA 92161 858-552-7548 [email protected]