Virginia is the first in the nation to end homelessness for veterans. How did the state, which has the 7th largest veteran population in the country, achieve this benchmark? By using the Housing-First model, a policy that provides homeless people with safe, supportive shelter as a prerequisite for attending to other underlying issues. In the past year, Virginia has provided permanent housing to more than 1,400 homeless veterans. The benchmark also means that the state has the resources to take in any veterans who want housing in the future within 90 days. Housing-First is proving to be a cost efficient and humane way to end homelessness. Do you think it would make sense to extend this policy to nonveteran homeless people with the same focus in coming years?
100womenstrong grants $639,000 to 51 loudoun nonprofits in support of shelter, health, mental health, hunger, and education. Read more.
