[ST. PAUL, MN] – Today, Governor Tim Walz met with local property owners and landlords to encourage them to participate in ending homelessness among Minnesota Veterans.

“Minnesota is on track to reduce Veteran homelessness,” said Governor Walz. “We have 207 Veterans on the Homeless Registry. Many of them are holding vouchers to cover the cost of housing. Let’s give these Veterans a place to live and become the fourth state in the country to effectively end Veteran homelessness.”

Since December 2014, efforts across the state have resulted in housing 1,813 previously homeless Veterans. Minnesota’s statewide Homeless Veterans Registry creates individual housing plans based on each Veteran’s unique challenges and situation and is largely credited as the key to Minnesota’s success.

“A collaboration of state agencies and non-profit organizations has effectively ended Veteran homelessness in five of 10 areas in Minnesota,” said Larry Herke, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner. “We are committed to continuing this success in the remaining five areas so that all Minnesota Veterans have a safe place to live.”

As of July 29, the Registry lists 207 Veterans who are experiencing homelessness in Minnesota. Research demonstrates that the most lasting solutions are personalized for each individual or family on a Veteran-by-Veteran basis.

“Ending Veteran homelessness does not mean that another Veteran will never experience homelessness in Minnesota. Instead, it means that these state agencies and non-profit partners are able and ready to respond quickly, so that Veteran homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring,” said Commissioner Herke.

Once on the Registry, Veterans experiencing homelessness are typically housed within four months. A common barrier for these Veterans experiencing homelessness is finding a landlord to accept their housing voucher. At the event, Governor Walz asked landlords to open their doors to homeless Veterans.  

“In addition to providing housing vouchers, we have developed a system to support Veterans as they transition from homelessness,” said Sue Speakman-Gomez, President of HousingLink. “We also have incentives and risk mitigation programs for landlords to make this a win-win situation.”

At the Landlord Summit, Speakman-Gomez encouraged landlords to register with HousingLink and share information regarding available housing units at homes-for-veterans.paperform.co. Questions can be directed to HousingLink at 866-522-2827.

“We have locations in Rochester, St. Cloud, Duluth and the Twin Cities, and can help support Veterans across the state,” said Rick Klun, Executive Director of Center City Housing.

“We need property owners and landlords to make units available to Veterans who are experiencing homelessness,” said Jennifer Ho, Minnesota Housing Commissioner. “I know there are low vacancy rates and we need more housing. I also know that Minnesota landlords, who have built housing that’s affordable, will partner with us to make this targeted push to find housing for these Veterans.”

Anyone who knows of a Veteran experiencing homelessness can connect them with services by calling 1-888-LinkVet (546-5838).