WASHINGTON — In a major push to address veteran homelessness, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is allocating $84 million in grants to 176 nonprofit and community organizations nationwide.
The funding is evenly split: $42 million is earmarked for legal services, while another $42 million is dedicated to case management.
Legal Services: Preventing Evictions, Resolving Disputes
The legal services grants will be channeled through the VA’s Legal Services for Homeless Veterans and Veterans At-Risk for Homelessness Grants program. Veterans will receive support in areas such as:
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Landlord-tenant disputes to prevent eviction
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Family law matters (child support, custody proceedings) and estate planning
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Securing state and federal benefits
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Legal defense in criminal proceedings (e.g. warrants, fines, driver’s license issues)
Case Management: Supporting Housing Stability
The case management portion of the grants is administered via the VA’s Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program, which focuses on helping formerly homeless or at-risk veterans maintain stable housing.
Approximately 100 new case manager roles will be funded. These professionals will:
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Assist veterans in identifying and securing suitable housing
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Conduct home visits to monitor housing stability and service needs
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Support veterans’ access to education and empowerment resources
Context and Reaction
VA Secretary Doug Collins emphasized the urgency of the initiative:
“No one who served our nation in uniform should go without shelter. These grants will provide crucial support and services to help thousands of Veterans on their journey back to self-sufficiency.”
The announcement arrives amid signs of progress: a 2024 VA point-in-time count reported 32,882 veterans experiencing homelessness — a record low and a 7.5 percent decline from 2023 levels. ) The decline is part of a long-term trend: since 2010, veteran homelessness has dropped by more than half, according to analysis cited by Newsweek.
Advocacy groups such as the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) have long pushed for stronger legal aid and wraparound support for veterans, noting that legal troubles and unstable housing often go hand in hand.
What Veterans Can Do
Veterans experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing housing can:
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Call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838)
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Visit the VA Homeless Programs website for eligibility information, grant awardee lists, and other support resources
This funding round joins a broader VA effort: recently the department awarded $818 million to support veteran homelessness through similar programs in fiscal year 2026.
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