Landlords across Minnesota are needed in the push to end Veteran homelessness. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) recently announced the launch of the Minnesota Homeless Veteran Registry. This effort was the result of a strong partnership with Governor Mark Dayton's Cabinet-level Interagency Council on Homelessness and in support of Heading Home: Minnesota's Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness.

The Homeless Veteran Registry works by connecting federal, state, county, and non-profit partners in a shared goal of ensuring that Veterans experiencing homelessness have access to appropriate housing and services through a case management approach. Regardless of the type of discharge, any Veteran who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard can join the Registry. Veterans can join directly or can be referred by anyone who completes the Veteran's appropriate release of information found on MDVA's web page.

Last month, MDVA added the capability for landlords to be listed on the Homeless Veteran Registry. "Homelessness ends with housing," said Eric Grumdahl, MDVA's Special Advisor on Ending Veteran Homelessness. "Finding landlords who say yes to Veterans - especially Veterans who have struggled in the past - is critical to reaching our goal," he said. "We're looking for landlords who understand that every Veteran deserves a chance to be housed, and who are willing to offer them that chance."

Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman echoed this call during his State of the City address, saying:

[Minneapolis] Mayor Hodges and I have dedicated our communities to the special task of ensuring - by the end of this year - that no Veteran is without a home... If you know a Veteran who is homeless or, very importantly, a landlord who is willing to rent to a Veteran, please call 1 (888) LinkVet and someone will be there to help.

Landlords can join the Registry in the same way that Veterans do: by calling 1 (888) LinkVet (546-5838). When landlords indicate interest in housing Veterans experiencing homelessness, MDVA reaches out to discuss the rental barriers that many Veterans on the Registry face and to learn about the housing options available. If the landlord agrees to be listed, their name and information about their available properties are added to the Registry. Case managers working with Veterans on the Registry consult this information in searching for housing solutions.

Today, there are over 200 Veterans on the Registry in the Twin Cities. "We are making significant progress on this issue, but need the private sector to play its role," explains Grumdahl, "One of the surprises has been the number of Veterans who can afford housing - but who can't find a landlord who will accept them. Veterans bring many resources to the table, but what every Veteran on our list needs is a place to call home."

If you are a landlord and would like your available property to be listed on the Registry, or for more information, please contact LinkVet at 1 (888) LinkVet (546-5838) or the visit the /mdva/resources/homelessnessandprevention/homelessveteranregistry.jspRegistry webpage.