Improving Veterans’ Stability, Income, & Employment

As part of the federal initiative to end veteran homelessness, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) implemented a three-year coordinated effort known as the Veterans Homelessness Prevention Demonstration (VHPD). VHPD provided short-term financial assistance, case management, and employment services to 2,023 homeless and at-risk veterans.  The Veterans Homelessness Prevention Demonstration Evaluation: Final Report assesses the program’s outcomes for housing stability, employment, and income using Homeless Management Information System data, VA administrative data, and participant surveys taken at baseline and in the 6-12 months after exiting the program.

Upon entry to the program, 74 percent of the veterans served by VHPD were at risk of homelessness and 26 percent were homeless. An accompanying photo essay puts the research into perspective through the images and stories of affected veterans.

Major findings:

• Peer-to-peer programs, veterans on staff at service providers, and other recognition of their experience as veterans are important when serving homeless and at-risk veterans.
• At the time they exited the program, 85 percent of VHPD’s clients had stable housing. 24 percent reported difficulty paying their housing-related expenses. Only 6 percent of the clients remained homeless.
• After exiting the program, 43 percent of VHPD’s clients were working, compared with 25 percent at the time they entered the program.
• Clients’ average monthly income increased over the course of the program from $1,076 to $1,519.