San Francisco VA Health Care System

The San Francisco VA Health Care System was recently recognized by VA Central Office for its participation in the 25 Cities Initiative to end Veteran homelessness. Read the story to learn more.

In February, the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS) received a commendation from the VA Central Office for its hard work in supporting the 25 Cities Initiative. In March 2014 the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs launched the 25 Cities Initiative to assist communities with high concentrations of homeless Veterans in intensifying and integrating their local efforts to end Veteran homelessness.

The initiative concluded in September 2016, but contributed significantly to the recent progress in ending Veteran homelessness. Between 2014 and 2016, the 25 cities that participated in the initiative experienced a 22% reduction in Veteran homelessness.

Between January 2015 and August 2016, 29,499 Veterans were housed across the 25 targeted cities. Each city has developed a list that identifies all homeless Veterans by name so they can be linked to the appropriate services. From January 2015 until the initiative ended, each of 25 cities housed an average of 58 Veterans per month.

This initiative was a joint effort by VA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), and local community partners to support the 25 communities with resources, guidance, and lessons learned as they build out and enhance their existing local homeless programs. Through the initiative, VA and its federal partners worked to identify, by name, all of the remaining known homeless Veterans in their respective communities and worked to find permanent housing solutions for these Veterans and for other chronically homeless individuals.

Locally, SFVAHCS saw great outcomes for its chronically homeless Veterans thanks to this coordinated effort. Monthly HUD-VASH voucher distribution to San Francisco-area Veterans has significantly increased since the start of the 25 Cities Initiative, and the voucher distribution process has been streamlined due to greater interagency cooperation. With the help of the City of San Francisco, SFVAHCS has also been able to more effectively engage local landlords to help Veterans find safe and clean places to live.

“I just want to say how proud I am of the San Francisco HUD-VASH team,” says Jia Son, HUD-VASH Director for the San Francisco VA Health Care System. “We have improved processes to improve Veteran care, and the SFVAHCS is a key player in the community to end Veteran homelessness!”

Though the 25 Cities Initiative has concluded, the work in San Francisco is not done. SFVAHCS continues to work with its local partners - including the City of San Francisco, Swords to Plowshares, and HUD - in its quest to end chronic Veteran homelessness. This working group has identified September 2017 as a target date to house all currently identified chronically homeless Veterans in San Francisco, and it is currently ahead of schedule in accomplishing that goal.

If you or someone you know is a homeless Veteran in San Francisco, please check out the variety of special resources SFVAHCS offers to assist its homeless Veterans.