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Homelessness among Delaware veterans down from 2017

United States Interagency Council on Veteran Homelessness

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says homelessness among military veterans in Delaware is down 17 percent from 2017.

The VA said it’s using point in time counts that produce data on veterans that are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The next count is set for January.

Wilmington VA Medical Center Director Vincent Kane said the First State has a no wrong door approach that’s been successful. Veterans can seek housing assistance through various avenues including calling the homeless vet hotline or showing up at a hospital or shelter.

Kane said that vets can get certain vouchers, giving them permanent housing without having to go on a waiting list.

“And we can get them connected to the team that will help them with their housing and the support services that need to go with the housing," he said. "Because if it’s housing alone, they run the risk of falling back into homelessness.”

Larence Kirby is the executive director of the Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs. He says Delaware is one of three states that have effectively ended homelessness.

“That means we have systems in place to identify homeless veterans, get them into transitional housing and then ultimately get them into permanent housing," he said. "That’s our goal.”

Kirby adds they’ve housed 800 homeless vets since May 2015.

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