U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs targets homelessness for justice-involved Veterans

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is utilizing early legal support and specialized care to help justice-involved Veterans avoid homelessness and achieve stability.

Data indicates that involvement in the criminal justice system and housing instability are often interconnected. In fiscal year 2025, justice-involved Veterans served by the VA represented less than 1% of all U.S. Veterans, yet this group was 6.2 times more likely to experience homelessness than Veterans without such involvement. Criminal records can negatively impact job interviews, housing applications, and custody hearings, creating significant barriers to stability.