Running head: POLICY ANALYSIS HOMELESS VETERANS

Tracy Hawthorne
Ek1877
Wayne State University
SW 4710 Policy Analysis
October 13, 2015

HOMELESS VETERANS
Abstract

When researching homeless veteran policies, this is one of the many different discussions
that is part of social welfare policies. Therefore, one of many different studies that takes an
inside look of street survival among the homeless who are disadvantaged veterans. Homeless
veteran barrier confronted in achieving health and human service leaving many of these veterans
experiencing numerous issues that are contributing to their troubles. While there some present
results observed homelessness among veterans comparing data from 1996 National Survey of
Homeless Assistance Providers.
Due to this fact, the present result cohort of veterans aged 20 to 34 by the age of 55
showed no increased risk of homelessness. In this paper, it also discussing the qualitative
investigate view in the direction to a right or wrong death surrounded by twenty-one older
homeless adults living in permanent home sought as transitional housing. In 1987, VA first
having official permission services to a house and treat homeless veterans. Today, VA offers the
greatest integrated network of homeless treatment and assistance services in the country.

HOMELESS VETERANS
Current Social Problem

When researching and discussing social welfare policy, there are an enormous amount of
things to come carefully to mind. When investigating veteran homeless policy, a small number of
fascinating things are observed. The homeless veteran was experiencing numerous issues that are
contributing to the situation needing to be dealt with in the United States that has been expanding
in large numbers throughout the years. Therefore, it has a dilemma that Americans lack to be a
concern for seeing a temporary condition that fall among the people who cannot afford a home.
Homeless is forced to live in an unsafe and unstable environment. However, there isnt much
relating to the long period study that has been done concerning past programs. A small number
of contemporary programs such as the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program and
Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program are beginning to help the situation. The
veterans provide details about a high incidence of mental and physical problems, restricted
strategy that may be adopted in adverse circumstances.
A homeless may also be part of people whose resident at night time may include sleeping
in a homeless shelter. Also, staying in a short-term emergency shelter that operates when
temperatures in the summer time can give a person a heat stroke or temperature become
dangerously inclement. Homeless can also be a person running away from a situation into a
domestic violence shelter, sleeping in a cardboard box, or other insane housing conditions.
Therefore, my Policy Analysis Paper will address the different policies that are in place to make
it easier to support homeless veterans. According to Gamache, the present results show that the
cohort of veterans aged 20-34 they are the ones most at risk in the 1980s, still has the highest risk
for homelessness. When a human being signs their signature to a significance contract, such as
an armed forces enlistment commitment, there can be numerous of explanation. One of the

HOMELESS VETERANS

explanation possibility is a very intense sense of responsibility to give back to a nation or benefit
from the experience a person will gain from the military to have a lustrous life.
The price is expensive and in numerous cases the cost is reimbursed with one giving up
their life. Due to this reason, the question is what occur when the enrollment is over, and the
soldier comes back to America. Countless of occasion these veterans are brought back to the
United States carrying with them significant depression, anxiety disorder and schizophrenia of
the war. Veterans are now fighting another war in America on their soil which is homeless.
Homeless Veterans are a situation need to be dealt with in the United States that has been
expanding in large numbers throughout the years. Therefore, it is a dilemma that Americans lack
to be a concern for seeing a temporary condition that fall among the people who cannot afford a
home. According to Lessons Learned from the U.S. Department of Labor Grantees, Homeless
female veterans and Homeless Veterans with Families (2012) are found in communities across
the country.
While an exact count of their numbers is unknown, the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) requires a number of homeless people in communities across the
country known as the Point in Time (PIT) count. Therefore, five different states NY, FL, GA,
TX, and CA between October 2011-September 2012 was 40% among the states were 20,944
women veterans were identified as homeless or a risk of becoming homeless. Also in 2011 at
lease 141,000 veterans spent one night at a shelter with 10% being women. In The Journal of
Applied Social Sciences, coping and survival skills of homeless veterans is a study that takes a
look inside of street survival among the homeless who are disadvantaged veterans. The statistics
collected data from veterans who were interviewed between the age group of 25-68, analyzing

HOMELESS VETERANS

assistance availability and their point of view. Discussing the homeless veteran internal strengths
cover hopefulness, confidence and aspiration expressing the situation confronted by difficulties.
Homeless Veterans: perspectives on social services use analyzes phenomena of the
physical world collectively and jurisdiction of homelessness and problems associated with social
services use. Also, focus on face to face meeting, related to study investigation the idea or feeling
needs of homeless veterans and the barrier confronted in achieving health and human services.
The diversity of issues and social services obstacle were revealed with exemplars from the
discussion.
What are the policies in place to address this concern?
There is broad diversity of programs put in place to assist people who are homeless. The
United State Interagency Council on Homelessness National to end homelessness works as the
most important principle of action adopted concerning this set of circumstances. They are
continuously seeking new method to enhance the elements within our country, and each year
these policies are addressed and new policies are designed to revamp the present systems to help
with this fast growth of homelessness.
The bill Public Law 110 -161The Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem (GPD)
Program, permanently authorized by Congress and administered by the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA), has been the establish of organization homeless veterans aid since 1992.
With almost fifteen thousand beds widespread helping up to thirty thousand men and women
every year, the GPD Program is repeatedly the first and most remarkable movement forward to
strengthen veterans encountering homelessness (VA, 2013).
The Housing and Urban Development- Veterans Administration Supportive Housing
Program (HUD-VASH) was one of the programs that were created. This was a joint effort

HOMELESS VETERANS

between the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Veterans
Administration (VA) to attack the issue of veteran homelessness from several different angles.
Are these policies dictated by local, state or federal statute or combinations?
Policies put in place are constantly being updated and changed to help in accommodating the
growing number of veterans that fall into the categories of being homelessness. On February 5,
2015, President Obama put forward a 2016 Budget that reveals his leadership being deeply
devoted to ending homelessness. It is the fifth budget developed by The United State Interagency
Council on Homelessness member agencies since put into motion the Opening Doors. Which
includes strategic investments in working to resolve homelessness. As a result of this USICH, the
fundings required to terminate unending homelessness in 2017, form significant progress ending
homelessness among, adolescent, children, and families in 2020 support physically and mentally
determined attempt to terminate Veteran homelessness in 2015. In this Budget, the President calls
for nearly $5.5 billion aim for homelessness support.
In addition to aiming at homelessness support, the Budget also involve primary
investments to mainstream programs required to end homelessness, such as 67,000 new Housing
Choice Vouchers to assist low-income households, including families experiencing
homelessness; survivors of domestic and dating violence; families with children in foster care;
youth aging out of foster care; and Veterans experiencing homelessness, regardless of their
discharge status (USICH, 2013). United States Interagency Council on Homelessness is
facilitating working together making some efforts with VA, HUD, Labor, and HHS. Therefore,
these programs will come together to arrange resources for significant effectiveness in different
circumstances operate separately. Also, by analyzing models of local/federal collaboration in the

HOMELESS VETERANS

interest of Veterans, the amount of teaching learned can be applied in other communities,
expanding the number of homeless Veterans who benefit.
What is working or not working especially for at risk populations
In Detroit, Michigan we have outpatient programs at VA Medical Center focused on
ending homelessness among Veterans. The two programs are accredited Joint Commission and
CARF. The HCHV staff evaluating Veterans who are homeless by assessing their needs, linking
Veterans with VA and substance use, vocational, mental health, community resources, referring
to transitional and permanent housing options, dental care, and connecting Veterans with
medical. The GPD program provides transitional housing for Veterans experiencing
homelessness in a community program for up to 24 months while the Veteran receives case
management services through the community program staff. GPD staff oversees the services
provided for the Veteran with the ultimate goal being safe, affordable, permanent housing. The
Contract Residential program provides Veterans with shorter term transitional housing with case
management assistance for up to 6 months and also has the goal of moving the Veteran into safe,
affordable permanent housing (VA, 2015).
Programs that seem to have the most effective and work for homeless and at-risk veterans
are community-based, nonprofit, veterans helping veterans groups. Which is also productive
with featuring transitional housing with substance-free environments, the camaraderie of living
in structured. It is very critical that the different community groups participate in providing
significant support. Therefore, programs collaborative to help homelessness veterans with
housing, employment, and health care. According to the June 2012 Chattanooga Regional
Homeless Coalitions Blueprint Analysis, Chattanooga Regional Homeless Coalition 2,987
people have transition from homelessness into housing since 2003, 90% of people have remained

HOMELESS VETERANS

housed. Since 2007 publishing the blueprint has a dramatic result especially containing the
Chattanooga region experiencing chronic homelessness. The interesting results is in 2007 -2011
chronic homelessness declined by 89%, and overall homelessness declined by 48% according to
Point in Time data.
The Obama Administration has a goal to end veterans' homelessness, but it will need to
be improved policy to make that effective to achieve the goal. The data collected as of January
2014, by The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development showed in
2010 that 33 percent decrease in homeless veterans. The data also pointed out as of January
2014, on any given night there will be 49.933 veterans experiencing homelessness and 40
percent drop in unsheltered homeless veterans. I think by the data being produced by The
Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) the policy
have been effective to reduce homeless for veteran and unsheltered homeless veterans. Also, with
The Obama Administration and VA taking top priority in funding programs to end homelessness
among veterans, they will have to set a system up that can identify individuals and families who
need to be placed in secure housing and services.
According to Ending Veteran Homelessness Map This interactive map identifies and
provides details on the current state of veteran homelessness in the U.S. The map provides details
on changes in the number of veterans experiencing homelessness in a community from 2013 to
2014, data on cities that have ended veteran homelessness, and details on the 78 communities
that could receive a new, one time "surge" of an additional $300 million in funding over the next
three years under the Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) Supportive Services for Veteran
Families (SSVF) program (VA 2015).
Current Policy Been in Place? Who supports and who opposes the policy?

HOMELESS VETERANS

However, Senator Bernie Sanders former Chairman and a current member of the Senate
Veterans Affairs Committee, highest priorities in Congress has been ensuring is that our veterans
receive the care and benefits they have earned. In 2013, he worked continually with the
Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki making a deal with HUD to give
permanent housing for homeless veterans nationwide by rewarding them with sixty million
dollars.
However, today in 2015 Sen. Sanders also strongly feel that we must stop the travesty of
veterans homelessness. While a substantial amount gains have been turned over in the past six
years, the fact that on any given night there are fifty thousand homeless veterans on the street is a
national disgrace. We also need to make further improvements to the VA disability claims
process, which while significantly streamlined, still takes far too long for many
veterans(sanders.senate.gov, 2013).
From the data collected that was introduced in the early part of my paper, it reflects how
time from 2012 has effective the programs and time also produce other programs which given
birth to newer programs. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) control the functioning
considerable amount integrated health care network in the United States and has put a together a
campaign to end homelessness among veterans.
A primary metric for measuring the target of discontinuing experienced homelessness by
the end of 2015 is the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Point-InTime (PIT) count. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has labor for a long
period fighting different difficult to assist Americans with issues of secure housing, it was in the
year of 2008 when HUD-VASH program was in effect with the intention of concentrating
personally on veteran homelessness (HUD, et.al 2013).

HOMELESS VETERANS

10

The 2013 PIT count calculate that on a single night in January, there were 57,382
veterans was accounted experiencing homelessness and that of these, 23,154 (40.35%) was
identified as the unsheltered or street dwelling. While there has been numerous publicized
attempt directed providing permanent supported housing for homeless veterans, there has been
less focus on outreach methods and how to engage veterans so they can receive the benefits of
permanent supported housing, health care, and other services and benefits.
Finally, the Grant Per-Diem program is a newer program that was just introduced in June
of 2012 (glitch, 2012). This data study the proportion and characteristics of literal manner
homeless veterans as be at variance with those at significant amount risk. Therefore,
homelessness who were engaged in VA homeless services through street outreach as compared to
those who were involved in community outreach, through provider referral, or self-referral.
Differences in referral and admission to downstream VA homeless programs between those
engaged in these different approaches were also examined (Tsai, 2011).
As humanities, to see people go without food and water makes me unhappy to see the
reality going on in human life today. We all deserve to be able to survive especially today in
America. However, what happens to the person who defend American in the war and yet when
they return to the states the same Constitution, they fault for does not protect them nor the family
that was left behind. The reality is having America forgotten along with the many leaders who
fought for United state on soil that this veteran should not have to give up their lives to fight for
what we believe then come home and lose their lives, home and dignity. These men and women
have taken an oath and return being mental, physical, financially and spiritually broken, we owe
them a debt of gratitude. After being put into a situation making hard decisions, living in hard

HOMELESS VETERANS

11

environment, you would the different programs for veterans would give them the proper help
needed.
Interview one advocate, legislator regarding their opinion of current policy.
Terrell Martin used to travel throughout the world, advertising and marketing products
like surgical instruments. All that turn around a couple years ago when Terrell begins training for
his Master's degree in social work. He did an internship at the Michigan Veterans Affairs Medical
Center's homeless clinic, where he retired. He mentation it is very overtiring, but it is also
indulged to feel you've helped someone in the right direction to reach their primary goal. While
working at Michigan VA Medical Center's Homeless clinic, he also helps the veterans that come
in, find housing and Health Care. Also, other issues that are address keep homeless veterans on
the streets, such as substance abuse or mental problems.
That is where his outreach efforts with local homeless agencies, such as Detroit Rescue
Mission, Cots, and East Side Emergency Center. Twice a week, Terrell joins counselors from
homeless agencies in the Wayne or Macomb County as they visit the homeless on the street. It
has important for us to support local organizations to help to have a network that will expand our
outreach. Some veterans may not want to interact with the hospital, we do not wish to force
them to participate. As a social worker we want is to make people aware that help is available.
Example when the crowd gathers for helpings of food, toiletries and other items from these local
homeless agencies, Terrell works the crowd, asking if anyone has served in the military.
Not every veteran always responds with an answer at first, but eventually someone speak
up. Terrell explains that it is about building familiarity and trust. Some people have a real
problem about coming to VA, especially those with post-traumatic stress disorder. Terrell says
but if you can engage with them in a neutral area and then you can start building a relationship, it

HOMELESS VETERANS

12

makes it easier to get them to begin trusting. Also, once a veteran enters VA programs, Terrell
says they are going to come out better than they were before they entered into the program if
they make the effort. If they are willing to engage with us, they will change, Terrell added. They
will come out stronger than they came in.

13

HOMELESS VETERANS
Reference
Applewhite, S. L. (1998). Coping and survival skills of homeless veterans. The Journal of
Applied Social Sciences, 23(1), 13-21.
Applewhite, S. (1997). Homeless veterans: perspectives on social services use. Social Work,
42(1), 19-30.
Bernie Sanders: United States Senator for Vermont (2015). Retrieved from:
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/veterans/

Gamache, G., Rosenheck, R., & Tessler, R. (2001). The proportion of veterans among homeless
men: A decade later. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 36(10), 481-5.
Ko, E., Kwak, J., & Nelson-Becker, H. (2015). What constitutes a good and bad death?:
Perspectives of homeless older adults. Death Studies, 39(7), 422-432.
doi:10.1080/07481187.2014.958629
Rosenheck, R., Leda, C., Frisman, L., & Gallup, P. (1997). Homeless mentally ill veterans: Race,
service use, and treatment outcomes. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 67(4), 632638.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (2013) Homeless Veterans Definition.
Retrieved from http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD/?src=/program_offices/public
The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. (2015). Statistics on Veterans and Homelessness.
Retrieved from http://www.veteransinc.org/about-us/statistics
The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (2013). HUD & VA Team Up to
Provide Permanent Homes to 9,000 Homeless Veterans. Retrieved from:
http://www.usich.gov/media_center/news/hud_va_team_up_to_provide_permanent
_homes_to_9000_homeless_veterans/
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (2013) Homeless Veterans Definition.

HOMELESS VETERANS

14

Retrieved from http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD/?src=/program_offices/public

United States. (2006). Evaluation of the Veterans Health Administration homeless grant and per
diem program. Washington, DC: Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2013). HUD and VA Announce Vouchers to Help
Homeless Vets Get Into Permanent Homes.Retrieved from
http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm
Wright, J. D. (1988). The worthy and unworthy homeless. Society, 25, 64-69.