HUD reports nationwide drop in veteran homelessness

Veteran homelessness across California dropped by 5.2 percent since last year, according to a new national estimate announced Thursday by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

HUD’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report found that veteran homelessness dropped by 4.1 percent in San Francisco, 5.3 percent in Marin County, 4.8 percent in San Mateo County, 0.3 percent in Santa Clara County and 0.9 percent in Alameda County.

The report found a national drop of 5.4 percent, and a decrease to nearly half the number of homeless veterans reported in 2010.

HUD Secretary Ben Carson said in a statement:

“We’ve made great strides in our efforts to end veteran homelessness, but we still have a lot of work to do to ensure those who wore our nation’s uniform have access to stable housing.”

HUD officials also found a nearly 10 percent decline nationally since last year among female veterans experiencing homelessness.

They attribute the drop to the HUD-Veteran Affairs Supportive Housing program, which combines permanent HUD rental assistance with case management and clinical services provided by the VA. Last year, more than 4,000 veterans found permanent housing and support services through the program, according to HUD.

Veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless should contact their local VA Medical Center and ask to speak to a homeless coordinator or call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 4AID-VET.