NEW Consolidated Funding Data from VA for 7 Homeless Veteran Programs. $2.1 Billion in 2022, An Increase of 1513% From 2002.

As it happens today is the day I joined the Army in Detroit, a few months after my high school graduation. So today is good timing for a VA related housing post. 

Both VA and HUD have shared success stories on the reduction in veteran homelessness. 

While HUD data on the housing costs of the VASH program are available, finding information on the costs of  multiple VA homeless programs is much more difficult. 

I was pleased therefore to see that this month CRS published a report on veteran homelessness, including funding obligations by FY for 7 VA homeless programs. While extracting that information from the CRS was complicated I was able to extract annual information and have pasted below a table and graph for three years--2002, 2012, and 2022. 

Note that these VA obligations do NOT include $1.4 BILLION in COVID homeless veteran funding for three years, NOR any of the HUD VASH housing costs ($700+million in the most recent calendar year).

VA VASH case management costs ARE included in these totals--note that those $849M in those VASH case management costs for 2022 are HIGHER than the $700+M HUD paid in 2022 for VASH housing assistance costs . 

Observations

• Total VA homeless obligations in 2022 were $2.17 Billion vs $907 million in 2012 and $135 million in 2002. 
• 2022 VA homeless obligations represent a 140% increase from 2012 and a 1513% increase from 2002. These increases are substantially HIGHER than the 26% [March 2012-March 2022] and 61% [March 2002-March 2022]  increases in Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average.
• BOTTOM LINE: While waivers and other administrative cooperation and streamlining have clearly helped, the SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE in federal VA (AND HUD) homeless funding is a key reason why veteran homelessness has been reduced. 

Originally created and posted on the Oregon Housing Blog.