VA Unleashes $818 Million to Aid Homeless Vets

The Department of Veterans Affairs just made a big move that could change the lives of thousands of veterans across the country. They announced over $818 million in grants to help veterans who are homeless or at risk of ending up on the streets. This money will go to 235 organizations across the United States that work directly with veterans and their families.

As a veteran myself, this is the kind of action we’ve been demanding for years. Way too many of our brothers and sisters have come home from war only to fight a different kind of battle—one against poverty, addiction, and homelessness. For decades, the system let too many fall through the cracks. But this recent push from the VA is a strong sign that things are finally moving in the right direction.

These grants come from the VA’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families program, better known as SSVF. This program is designed to help veterans who are already homeless or at risk. The goal is simple: get veterans off the streets and into stable housing, and make sure they don’t end up homeless again. But this isn’t just about putting a roof over someone’s head. It’s about getting them the full package—housing, childcare, health care, transportation, and even legal help.

It’s worth noting that this isn’t just throwing money at a problem. The data shows the plan is working. In 2024, the number of homeless veterans was down to 32,882. That’s a 7.5% drop from the year before. Even more impressive, veteran homelessness has dropped more than 55% since 2010.

Now, we all know that statistics can be twisted, but this is one case where the numbers back up what many of us are seeing on the ground. More veterans are finding housing, and fewer are stuck living in their cars or on park benches. And that matters. These are folks who served this country honorably. They kept their promise. It’s about time the government kept its promise to them.

The grants will continue to fund help through the 2026 fiscal year. That includes help with housing searches, financial planning, and even getting access to doctors. For veterans with kids, there’s support for childcare too. And with transportation assistance, vets won’t have to choose between going to a job interview or making it to a VA appointment. It’s all covered.

It’s also good to see the VA cutting waste and putting more money where it belongs—in the hands of veterans. Not long ago, they redirected millions that used to go toward union perks and instead put that money into real services for real veterans. That’s the kind of leadership we need more of.

VA Secretary Doug Collins said it best: things like housing counseling and financial help can be the key to keeping veterans off the streets. He’s right. A lot of veterans don’t need a handout—they need a hand up. Give them the tools and they’ll do the work. That’s how we were trained.

For anyone out there who’s struggling or knows a vet who might be, there is help. You can call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. There’s also the VA Homeless Programs website, which has a ton of resources.

At the end of the day, this is about more than money. It’s about honor. It’s about making sure that when someone signs up to defend this nation, we don’t leave them behind when they come home. This $818 million is a step in the right direction—but the mission isn’t over. We’ve got to keep pushing, keep fighting, and keep looking out for each other. That’s what veterans do.