The aim of this program is to put the roughly 50,000 homeless veterans to work. In order to do so, the VA plans to employ Community Employment Coordinators (CECs) at all VA medical centers in the country. With the help of CECs, veterans will be paired with community employers who can find them jobs. Once employed, the CECs will provide resources to the veterans which will help them succeed in their field.

The HVCES program compliments existing efforts to end veteran homelessness which provide vets a place to live. By implementing a Housing First approach, the US has been able to reduce the number of homeless vets by 33%.

After having a place to live, the next step for veterans is to find a job. This is where HVCES comes in. Having cash in your pocket is not the only benefit of having a job for veterans. The VA believes a job can give veterans improved quality of life, self-esteem, independence, and social skills.

If the government remains focused on solving the homeless-veteran problem, 0% Veteran-homelessness is a real possibility. These servicemen and women are strong, hardworking, and skilled. All they need is an employer to give them a chance to prove it and allow them to get back on track.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact a veterans attorney, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800

The key principle behind the push is “Housing First” — the notion that veterans need stable housing in order to make progress on other issues. In order to move forward, a number of federal agencies have collaborated to identify, target and serve the most vulnerable veterans.

Now, local governments are joining the effort. Earlier this summer, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, together with Michelle Obama, issued the Mayor’s Challenge. The program asks mayors to join the White House by pledging to end veteran homelessness in their own cities by 2015.

In Michigan, mayors from Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Highland Park, Lansing and Southfield have joined.

Still, challenges remain. Recently, NPR reported that homelessness is currently rising for female veterans, who are disproportionately affected by issues such as unemployment and past sexual assault. In addition, many women have children that they support — meaning that if they lose their housing, so does the rest of their family.

The effort to end veteran homelessness is part of a larger initiative by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. In 2010, the Council developed and presented a comprehensive plan that, by 2020, would end chronic homelessness as well as homelessness among veterans, families, children and youth.

A fact sheet from the Council recognized the specific problem of rising homelessness among female veterans, while also asserting that PTSD, traumatic brain injury and other physical and mental health issues create higher risk for homelessness.

While not everyone believes that the goal of ending veteran homelessness by 2015 is achievable, most experts are encouraged by the progress and continued momentum.

According to the Midland Daily News, Michigan counties received more than $10 million last month in grants for the prevention of veteran homelessness.

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact a veterans lawyer, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800