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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact:
March 6, 2014 Anna Long
(651) 263-2640
Statewide Registry unites resources to end homelessness
among all Veterans by end of 2015
With 300 days remaining in 2015, the
Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs announces the launch of a statewide
Registry focused on housing Veterans experiencing homelessness. MDVA, together
with Governor
Mark Dayton’s Cabinet-Level Interagency Council on Homelessness, set this goal
as a part of the State's Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in Minnesota by the end of 2015. If successful, Minnesota will be
the first state to do so.
The Homeless
Veteran Registry works by connecting federal, state, county and non-profit partners
in a shared goal of providing housing and services to Veterans and their
families. Once a Veteran is in the Registry, these partners work together in a
case management approach to create successful and sustainable housing solutions.
“No Veteran in Minnesota should be without
a home. We have seen remarkable progress toward ending Veteran homelessness,
which has been cut nearly in half since our efforts began in 2010,” said Larry
Shellito, Commissioner of MDVA. “I’m proud of the progress we have already made—but
I won’t be satisfied until we have brought every Veteran
all the way home.”
An annual count of people experiencing homelessness
identified 317 Veterans statewide on a single night in January, 2014, which is the
most recent count available. The next point-in-time count is expected to be
released this spring.
While efforts within the Veterans community began several
years ago, the goal to end homelessness received more attention early last year
when the Mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul joined a friendly competition with
the Mayors of Des Moines and Columbus to end Veteran homelessness. Since then,
this “challenge” has been launched as a national effort by the White House and
First Lady Michelle Obama. Currently, it includes over 468 Mayors, County Executives,
and Governors. In Minnesota it includes Governor Mark Dayton and 10 Minnesota
Mayors from the cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, Duluth, St. Cloud,
Burnsville, Albert Lea, Inver Grove Heights, Falcon Heights and Buhl.
As part of this statewide initiative to end Veteran
homelessness, MDVA is working closely with the Minnesota Interagency Council on
Homelessness, the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Minnesota’s 10
Continuum of Care groups, and Mayors who are part of the Mayors Challenge. In
early January, New Orleans announced it was the first city in the nation to end
Veteran Homelessness. Minnesota would be the first state to eliminate homelessness if the goal is met by the end of
2015. Success will be measured by the point-in-time count conducted in January,
2016.
“It is critical to be working to achieve this goal, while
acknowledging that the work of ending Veteran homelessness will never be
complete. A Veteran could become homeless today or tomorrow,” Minneapolis Mayor
Betsy Hodges said. “Our work with MDVA and its partners means together we are
creating a system that combines resources to immediately respond, on a
Veteran-by-Veteran basis, to prevent or address homelessness and ensure all
Veterans have a place to call home.”
In every region of Minnesota partners like County Veterans
Service Officers assist with establishing Veteran benefits and resources, while
partners like Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans operate a statewide
grant to assist Veterans and prevent loss of housing, or to rapidly regain lost
housing. Federal partners, like the VA, administer
the HUD-VASH
program to address more diverse needs, from housing, to case management
and clinical services.
“This goal would not be possible without the strong
partnership being formed between city, county, state, and federal government,
as well as partners in business, non-profit and philanthropic sectors,” said Saint
Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. “This is not a slam dunk, it is an ambitious goal —
but together we can do this, and we must.”
Veterans can join the Registry directly or be referred. Anyone who knows of a homeless Veteran is encouraged to call 1-888-LinkVet (546-5838) or visit the Registry webpage at MinnesotaVeteran.org.
To
see the current list of leaders who have joined the Mayors Challenge website, visit the HUD website.
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