Homeless Veteran and Civilian Housing Initiative

Everyone needs safe, decent, stable housing.  For some of the most vulnerable people in America — people with mental illness, chronic health conditions, histories of trauma, and other struggles — a home helps them to get adequate treatment and start on the path toward recovery.

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Living without stable housing can drastically worsen health. Homelessness can exacerbate mental illness, make ending substance abuse difficult, and prevent chronic physical health conditions from being addressed. People with these and other health issues often end up in crises while living on the streets, and emergency rooms may be the only health care they can access.

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Affordable housing is part of the solution. Policymakers, administrators, and health providers are increasingly aware that a lack of stable housing can interfere with health goals. Having access to long-term housing produces substantial benefits for homeless individuals and families.

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Private market landlords are critical partners in the work to help people quickly exit homelessness. Strong connections to landlords are even more important in high-cost, low-vacancy markets, where affordable housing options are limited and even those with a voucher may find themselves unable to locate a unit.

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Successful landlord partnerships are locally driven and involve ongoing engagement. No single approach is the answer - the unique needs and assets of each community must be considered.