Department of Veterans Benefits Affairs logo The Way Forward NATIONAL CALL CENTER FOR HOMELESS VETERANS
VA Homeless Programs Office Monthly Newsletter | December 2024
Diverse hands gathering together

NEWS THIS MONTH
A WORD FROM HPO EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR MONICA DIAZ
HOMELESS TO HOMEOWNER: HUD-VASH HELPS VETERAN
VETERAN FINDS A HOME AFTER SEXUAL TRAUMA
FINVET HELPS VETERANS MASTER THEIR FINANCES
A Word from Monica Diaz
Executive Director, VHA Homeless Programs Office

It was an encouraging year in our campaign to end Veteran homelessness. As I reported last month, in fiscal year 2024, we housed the highest number of Veterans since 2019 and reached a record low in Veterans experiencing homelessness.

After a year like that, I think there are two questions that naturally arise. First, how did we accomplish this? And second, how do we repeat this kind of success?

The answer to the first question is easy. It was a team effort from top to bottom. This year was the year we doubled down on our One Team approach, and the results speak for themselves.


READ MORE


 
Homeless to Homeowner: HUD-VASH Helps Veteran Michael Magyar raising hands in front of his home
Army Veteran Michael Magyar once faced homelessness, but today, he is a proud homeowner. “VA, particularly the HUD-VASH program, gave me the stability, resources, and hope I needed to reclaim my life,” he shares.

Veteran Finds a Home After Sexual Trauma Nikea Reed and her dog
In just 18 months, Nikea Reed turned her life around. From a self-described “soulless body” struggling with addiction and enduring periods of homelessness, the Army Veteran is now renting her own apartment and studying graphic design.
FINVET Helps Veterans Master Their Finances A couple working on their finances together
Being on solid financial footing can help reduce the risk of homelessness for Veterans. FINVET, the National Veterans Financial Resource Center, provides a one-stop shop for valuable financial resources and advice, including how to build savings, increase income, pay for essentials, and manage debt.
ENDING VETERAN HOMELESSNESS PODCAST
Ending Veteran Homelessness podcast

Monica Diaz, executive director of the Homeless Programs Office, made another guest appearance on the podcast to reflect on how 2024 impacted Veterans experiencing homelessness and look ahead to 2025. Diaz talks about the major initiatives VA implemented this year and shares her thoughts on how effective leadership at every level drove reductions in Veteran homelessness.
Man holding house keys Man walking down a sidewalk A judge's gavel
Protecting Veterans from Rental Listing Scams Highlighting Veterans Justice Outreach in Cincinnati Voucher Program Provides Essential Housing to Veteran
Office supplies on a table House keys being passed between two hands For rent yard sign
A Closer Look at VA Homeless Programs 2025 Budget Podcast: VA Housed Nearly
48,000 Veterans in FY 2024 		Shallow Subsidy Services Offers Rental Support
Employee Spotlight: Dominic Lopez
When he served in the Navy, Dominic Lopez was committed to taking care of his troops. Now, he does the same thing for Veterans as a peer support specialist with the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. “My job at VA now is an exact continuation of that. I'm just taking care of the troops,” he said.
 Employee Spotlight: Dominic Lopez
Health Update

There’s more than holiday cheer spreading at this time of year. But how do you tell if your sniffles, sneezes, and coughs are a mild cold or something more serious, like the flu?

Take VA’s self-assessment to find out if you, or someone in your care, might have the flu. The assessment will help you determine if you should stay home, call a nurse’s advice line or your doctor, or seek medical attention.

NATIONAL CALL CENTER FOR HOMELESS VETERANS
Veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness are strongly
encouraged to contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans
at (877) 4AID-VET (877-424-3838) for assistance.