Happy Holidays to you and yours! I hope this season brings time for you to gather with loved ones, enjoy some rest and relaxation, and look forward to the coming year.

I am enjoying meeting with many of the employees at our Veterans Homes this month as we connect over our annual “Cookies and Cocoa” events. A number of senior leaders are traveling to all the Homes during the month of December to visit with employees and express our thanks for the care these dedicated employees provide to our Residents.

The weekend of December 13 - 14, my “year in review” interview will air on Minnesota Military Radio. As I reflect back on 2025, I am proud of the work we have done in support of Minnesota Veterans and their families. One of the biggest successes from the last year was – for the fourth year in a row – the passing of the Veterans and Military Affairs Omnibus Bill. This legislation continues to prioritize and focus resources for Veterans.

After several years of significant growth – adding one new State Veterans Cemetery and three new Minnesota Veterans Homes – we were able to focus more on sustaining and enhancing the programs and services that benefit Veterans.

This funding provided operating adjustments that helped us:

• Move toward fully staffing our three newest Veterans Homes, so they can serve more Veterans.
• Cover rising costs and staffing needs at our five legacy Veterans Homes across the state.
• Continue investment in asset preservation.

Another great accomplishment of 2025 was taking a step closer to becoming the fourth state in the country to end Veteran homelessness. Hennepin County declared the end of Veteran homelessness in November 2024. This milestone left only Ramsey County to reach this same goal. While we believe Ramsey County is now ready to declare, the federal certification process has been paused. 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.

At a time when homelessness is rising across the country, we’ve turned the tide.

• Since February 2023, across the state, Veteran homelessness has been reduced by 47%, and chronic Veteran homelessness by 80%.
• In Hennepin County specifically, Veteran homelessness has been reduced by 50% and chronic Veteran homelessness has been reduced by an astonishing 92%!
• Each of these numbers represents a Veteran who now has a home.

During 2025, we also continued our efforts to prevent Veteran suicide. Tragically, Minnesota loses some 100 Veterans every year to suicide. Research shows that firearms are the most common method used for Veteran suicides, so if we can delay access to a gun, it may mean the difference between life and death. That’s why we continue to distribute gun locks – more than 20,000 have been shared – to promote firearm safety and prevent Veteran suicide.

We are increasing support of Veterans and families through our newly named Veterans Community Health program. In addition to focusing on suicide prevention, they are establishing a Care Navigator program in hospitals to help better identify Veterans who are receiving care, and ensuring they are receiving all the benefits they have earned. We are also expanding efforts to support Veterans and their families before they are in crisis, striving to stay connected to address food insecurity, housing, mental health needs and more.

Remember, 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!