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The Department of Veterans Affairs set a new record for the number of veterans placed in permanent housing in 2023, placing more than 46,000 people in permanent homes.
The total of 46,552 veterans housed exceeds their goal of 38,000 placements by a whopping 23%, according to a Military.com report.
The VA said 96% of veterans who were placed in homes in 2023 have remained there, while the 1,919 veterans who returned to homelessness are still in the process of receiving help from the agency.
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The mark sets a new record for the VA, which worked with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help get more veterans off the streets, according to the report.
But the record also comes as the VA said last month that the number of veterans experiencing homelessness increased 7.4% from 2022, when there were 35,574 homeless veterans.
The reason for the increase is unknown, McDonough said, noting that the VA is looking for solutions.
“We just don’t know for sure,” McDonough said of the reasons for the increase, according to the report. “We think a lot of the impact (of the pandemic) will have been factored into the numbers we saw last year…Hopefully we’ll have more data by the end of the summer.”
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Despite last year’s increase, homelessness rates among veterans have steadily declined since 2010, when there were 76,000 homeless veterans on the streets or in hotels. Overall, the number of homeless veterans has fallen 52% since 2010 and 4% since 2020, the report notes.
Mónica Díaz, executive director of the VA’s Office of Homeless Programs, expressed optimism that the agency can continue to fight the problem, telling reporters this week that the VA believes that “veteran homelessness has solution”.
“We know what works… and we have the right tools to get the job done,” Diaz said during the press conference,” Diaz said.
The VA has not yet set a new housing goal for 2024, according to the report, although Diaz noted that the agency is ready if demand picks up again.
“Each issue represents new hope, dignity and a future full of possibilities for many of our veterans, thanks to the dedication of thousands of employees and partners across the country,” Diaz said.
The VA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
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