Veteran homelessness dropped 5% in Ohio, hit record low nationwide
The number of veterans experiencing homelessness in Ohio dropped 5% from 2023 to 2024, a new report says.
The 2024 "Point-in-Time Count" — conducted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness — also showed a record low in veteran homelessness since the measurement began in 2009.
The Point-in-Time Count is an annual count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January.
In Ohio, veterans experiencing homelessness decreased 5% from 623 last year to 589 this year. Nationwide, veterans experiencing homelessness decreased from 35,574 last year to 32,882 this year.
Across the U.S., the VA has permanently housed 134,000 veterans since 2022. Nearly 90,000 veterans were in lease agreements through the HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program as of the end of fiscal year 2024, a record high for the program.
“No veteran should experience homelessness in this country they swore to defend,” VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in a prepared statement. “... We still have a long way to go, but we will not stop until every veteran has a safe, stable place to call home.”
The VA also plans to award over $800 million in grants toward programs to address veteran homelessness this year.
The VA is focuses on a "housing first" approach, which prioritizes getting veterans into safe and stable housing and then providing other wraparound services, like health care and job training, to help them stay housed.
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'There is a need.' Honor Home of Stark County provides transitional housing to veterans
Honor Home of Stark County offers transitional housing for homeless veterans.
Brandi Parker, assistant director of veteran services at Honor Home, said they provide resources such as mental health support, substance abuse recovery and employment services.
"Honor Home is the only site that provides transitional housing for veterans inside the county," she said. "There is a need ... so much so that we've expanded and we will be expanding our facilities to accommodate the need."
Other resources on-site include creative art therapy, case management, food, clothing and other wraparound services.
Honor Home is primarily funded by the VA and gets some funding from other community organizations.
There are 18 beds available for male veterans and eight for female veterans. Parker said they are typically at an 85% to 95% occupancy rate. Honor Home also provides housing and resources to veterans from other counties and states.
"Not only do we provide housing for the local veterans, but we also provide the housing for the veterans that have relocated or are transient from other parts of the nation as well," Parker said.
The Stark County Veterans Service Commission estimates that there are more than 23,000 veterans overall living in the county.
If you are a veteran who is experiencing homelessness or at risk for homelessness, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. Visit VA.gov/homeless to learn about housing initiatives and other programs for veterans exiting homelessness.
If you are experiencing homelessness, regardless of veteran status, call the Stark County Homeless Navigation Hotline at 330-452-4363.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Veteran homelessness dropped 5% this year in Ohio
