States and cities nationwide have worked throughout 2015 to render veteran homelessness virtually extinct. On Thursday, Dec. 17, Philadelphia added its name to the list of those who have done their best to create a better safety net for anyone struggling in their life after service as part of the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness, according to Post Gazette.
Organizational and volunteer efforts in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, have made their impact felt. According to Post Gazette, from when Pittsburgh's Rapid Results Veteran's Homeless Boot Camp began in August 2014 to how it stands today, the number of homeless veterans has fallen from 230 to about 160.
When it comes to government agencies and homeless service providers, Chuck Keenan, administrator of the county's homeless services, told the source that "this has really tightened up relationships and processes. It just made people more aware of what was available to veterans and put that at the forefront of people's thinking – more so than in the past."
Not long ago, local officials set themselves the goal of finding long-term housing for 484 veterans by the end of 2015. As of last week, they had already succeeded in securing homes for 450.
"If we do a better job of identification and prevention up front, any veteran becoming homeless will become a rare experience because we got better at stopping it in the first place," said Jennifer Ho, a Department of Housing and Urban Development senior adviser to Post Gazette. "When it happens, it's much more brief."
That's what officials in Seattle/King County have found to be true. The Federal Way Mirror reported that, by working hand-in-hand with federal agencies, the Housing Authority there has provided almost 500 housing choice vouchers to homeless veterans and their families. Properties in the city have proven stubbornly expensive, but progress has been made by working closely with landlords and by offering veterans assistance with moving expenses, like paying off old utility bills and putting down deposits.