Happy New Year! As 2026 gets underway, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) is already working on our priorities for the 2026 Legislative session that will begin on February 17.

2026 is also the final year of our seven-year strategic plan created in 2019 that identifies our four goal areas. Over the years, we have focused our efforts on these strategies:

• Strategic Goal #1: ​Ensure a seamless continuum of support through collaborative relationships at a federal, state and community level that addresses the evolving needs of Veterans and their families.
• Strategic Goal #2: ​Increase Veteran awareness and participation in MDVA healthcare, programs and services.
• Strategic Goal #3: ​Be exemplary stewards of natural resources, financial resources and technology resources to improve our service to Veterans and families.​
• Strategic Goal #4: ​Develop, sustain and retain the quality of our workforce.​

We have tracked our progress during the past six years and believe we have made good headway in these areas, growing our programs and services and increasing the number of Veterans and family members served.

• Care for more Residents in our Veterans Homes: Achieve at least 90% Resident occupancy in our “legacy” Homes and 70% Resident occupancy in our newer Homes by June 30, 2026. We are making good progress toward this goal.
• End Veteran Homelessness: Achieve “functional zero” in Ramsey County. We are confident that Ramsey County has met the criteria for this goal. As I mentioned in last month’s column, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness is no longer certifying communities that have met the benchmarks for having effectively ended Veteran homelessness. So, while there is currently not a path to Ramsey County being certified at the federal level, we are actively working toward an alternative path for certification.
• Prevent Veteran Suicide: Launch a comprehensive suicide prevention and awareness program. We completed research working with the Wilder Foundation and are in the process of drafting a plan to present to the Legislature in February.
• Guide the Secret War in Laos Special Guerilla Unit (SGU) Taskforce: MDVA has a leadership role in facilitating the work of this taskforce. They have been meeting regularly and are preparing recommendations. Meeting minutes are posted on our website.

We are grateful for the funding provided to MDVA by the Minnesota Legislature. We recognize that we are entering a period where the state is expected to experience a structural imbalance in the budget. Regardless, MDVA will maintain its commitment to serving Minnesota Veterans and their families during both strong budget years as well as years when we must all tighten our belts.

If you need information or support on any Veteran issue, please visit our website, contact your County Veterans Service Officer, or contact LinkVet at 1-888-LinkVet.

Thank YOU for your service!