Total percentage decline between 2005 (15,420) and 2009 (6,540): 58%

1. Total percentage decline between 2005 (15,420) and 2009 (6,540): 58% *Los Angeles Housing Service Authority (2007), Figure 2, page 5. ** Los Angeles Housing Service Authority (2009), Table 3, p.2 Combating Veteran Homelessness It will take all of us

2. Homeless Veterans ”…we will provide new help for homeless Veterans because those heroes have a home—it’s the country they served, the United States of America. And until we reach a day when not a single Veteran sleeps on our nation's streets, our work remains unfinished.” - President Barack Obama, March 16, 2009

3. General Shinseki on Homeless Veterans “You see, to get to zero, we have to attack the entire cycle of downward spirals that end in homelessness — the last step in the loss of hope. We can't solve it, at the state or national levels, unless we attack jobs and education, health care and substance abuse, depression and suicides and housing.” (2009) “When I arrived in VA I began teaching myself to say ‘Veterans lead the Nation in homelessness, depression, substance abuse, and suicides. And they rank right up there in joblessness as well.” it was a punch in the gut for me and I repeated that line until it sunk in.” (2010) “Resources alone won’t end Veteran homelessness—people will. Determined, dedicated risk-takers who know the causes; who know what may work and what definitely won’t; and, who know how to deliver a mission that’s complex, complicated, rife with bureaucracy, and historically long on promises and short on delivery.” (2010)

4. Homeless Veterans* • 75,609 Homeless Veterans in the U.S. • 25.9% of all homeless Veterans reside in CA. • 14.9 % of all homeless reside in California * Data from the Veterans Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (2009)

5. Homeless Veterans in Southern California *It is estimated there are 8,197 homeless Veterans total in the service area shared by VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and VA Long Beach Medical Center

6. Who are California Homeless Veterans?

7. Homeless Veterans Health Issues • Medical Problems-47% • Alcohol- 52.2% • Drugs-50.7% • Substance Use- 74% • Serious Psychiatric-57% • 50% homeless more than 2 years

8. VASDHS Homeless Program • OUTREACH • Transitional Housing • Grant and Per Diem Program-508 beds • VA Supportive Housing- 590 units • Recuperative Beds- 17 • Veteran Treatment Court-VJO • VA Homeless Prevention • VA Domiciliary- opening 2012

9. California has 15.6% of the nation’s VASH Vouchers

10. California has 24.4% of all Grant Per Diem Beds in the Country

11. Calls to National Homeless Hotline* 1-877-4AID VET 877- 424-3838 * 5/10 a 24/7 National Homeless Hotline went live. 591 calls from California have been received since 10/10

12. Partnering to end homelessness Collaboration in Motion None of us can do this on our own. We need each other. In working with homeless veterans, we must enter into partnerships with both the public/private sector because no one agency or government agency alone can meet all of their needs. Homeless veterans need treatment, work, housing and a support system offered in a manner that is comprehensive, coordinated and integrated.

13. Three P’s to Go Forward Prevention-Providing services to prevent Veterans and their families from experiencing the first night of homelessness Expanding Partnerships-Building on the successful strategy that has made it possible to reduce Veteran homelessness Perseverance-Staying the course along with our community partners until the last homeless Veteran is off the street.

15. For more information on Veteran Services www.va.gov Link to services provided by the VA Homeless programs http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS Clay M. King, LICSW, FACHE Chief, Social Work Service VA San Diego, CA 92161 858-552-7548 clay.king@va.gov