VA launches new program to help homeless Veterans with emergency supplies, transportation

WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs today announced the creation of a $29 million fund that will provide assistance to eligible homeless Veterans and Veterans participating in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.

The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act authorizes VA to provide this assistance to eligible homeless Veterans through the end of FY2027. The law specifically enables VA to provide:

• Goods and services, such as food, shelter, clothing, blankets and hygiene items, as well as tablets, smartphones, disposable phones and other technology that supports the stability and health of Veterans by facilitating easier connection with service providers, prospective landlords, and family members.
• Transportation that helps Veterans attend medical appointments, search for housing and employment, or obtain food and supplies.

As part of the program, outlined here, VA medical centers can immediately begin providing goods and services to Veterans. Up to $11 million worth of this aid will be distributed to homeless Veterans upon the recommendation of VA clinicians across the country, and VA will track the distribution of this assistance nationally.

VA is also inviting transportation companies to submit proposals to offer transportation services to homeless Veterans so they can attend medical appointments, counseling and other necessary appointments. VA expects to award these contracts by September 2026, and once they are operating, VA expects to provide up to $18 million worth of free transportation services for homeless Veterans.

"Under President Trump, VA is making amazing progress keeping Veterans off the streets, and this critical program will help us continue these important efforts," said VA Secretary Doug Collins.

This funding is one of several initiatives VA is undertaking to prevent Veteran homelessness:

• In June, VA launched a new Partial Claims Program, which can help Veterans with financial struggles avoid foreclosure. This is one of several ways VA helps Veterans keep their homes - in FY2025 alone, VA worked with mortgage servicers to help 173,000 Veterans avoid foreclosure.
• VA continues to implement President Trump's executive order to create the National Center for Warrior Independence on the West LA VAMC campus. In May, VA announced a request for proposals to build housing for another 220 Veterans there.
• In FY2025, VA housed 51,936 homeless Veterans, the most in seven years.
• In FY2025, VA issued $902 million in grants (see here and here) to fight Veteran homelessness.