VA Expands Eligible Services For Homeless Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can now directly pay rent, utilities, housing deposits, moving expenses, food, transportation, and other costs for eligible veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness through VA medical centers. VA already provides housing assistance through programs such as Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), but the new authority allows VA medical centers to directly purchase or pay for assistance based on an individual veteran’s needs. Rental and utility assistance can generally be provided for up to 10 months within a two-year period, with exceptions when additional assistance is necessary to keep a veteran . . .