Ending Veteran homelessness is our moral imperative, a duty to those who have served us. We cannot rest while the brave men and women who served to protect our communities experience homelessness within them. Heading Home: Minnesota's Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness first developed in 2015, set the goal of ending homelessness, Veteran by Veteran, in Minnesota.
Since that time, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA), its partners, and most importantly, the Veterans served, have achieved more than 2,000 housing outcomes for Veterans in Minnesota. As a result, seven of the 10 Continuums of Care (CoCs) in Minnesota have declared an end to Veteran homelessness. These declarations have been recognized by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH). The CoCs that have declared include: West Central, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, Suburban Metro Area and Central Minnesota.
A declaration of an end to Veteran homelessness does not mean there will never again be another instance of homelessness among Veterans. The unpredictability of life means that Veterans may face housing crises and experience homelessness. When homelessness is unpreventable, we hope to ensure this instance is a brief, nonrecurring experience, with a rapid return to housing. MDVA and its partners are here to provide each Veteran and their families experiencing homelessness with appropriate, effective solutions. We have the system and resources available to Veterans in need. Together, we can ensure that every Veteran in Minnesota has a place to call home.
Homes for Veterans offers landlords the opportunity to confidently open the door to Veterans currently experiencing homelessness. Significant resources have been invested in Minnesota’s efforts to end Veteran homelessness, and providers are working together to find homes for Veterans, but a critical link to housing process is landlords in the community.
Minnesota has areas with little or no access to temporary emergency housing for Veterans or former service members and their households who are experiencing homelessness.
The Veterans Temporary Emergency Housing Voucher Program (VTEMP) provides reimbursements to Community Service Providers (CSPs) who are covering the cost of temporary hotel room(s) or non-congregate temporary unit(s) for Veterans or former service members and their households who are actively experiencing homelessness. The VTEMP program is considered a last alternative and implemented only when there are no other temporary emergency housing options in the community.
To participate, the CSP is required to read the VTEMP Program Guide and then review, complete and submit the following forms to homelessprograms.MDVA@state.mn.us:
MDVA’s Stable Housing Initiatives Team will provide confirmation to the CSP that these forms have been reviewed and that the status of the Veteran/former service member has been verified. The organization can then be confident that the hotel cost(s) will be reimbursed. Reimbursements may be backdated to referral date.
If the CSP is supporting the Veteran/former service member longer than the initial approved 14 nights, the CSP will need to submit Appendix F: Veterans Temporary Emergency Housing Voucher Program: Housing Plan from the VTEMP Program Guide. See Appendix F below.
This action will provide a 30-day extension. Submission must be received by MDVA within the three (3) days prior to the initial expiration. *Maximum total allowable days for reimbursement requests is 90 days per fiscal year.
Submit completed, required documentation via email to the MDVA Stable Housing Initiatives Team at homelessprograms.MDVA@state.mn.us or contact to learn more about the VTEMP program.
To help Veterans experiencing homelessness access stable housing and other services, MDVA created the Minnesota Homeless Veteran Registry.The Registry connects Veterans experiencing homelessness with housing and services in their community. It also helps programs and partners serving Veterans to coordinate their efforts. Anyone who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard can join the Registry, regardless of the type of discharge or length of time in the service. If you are a Veteran and choose to join, a team of housing and service professionals will work together to help you access housing and services that meet your needs. Participation is voluntary for Veterans. Choosing not to participate will not affect eligibility for services.
Anyone who knows of a homeless Veteran is encouraged to call 1-888-LinkVet (546-5838). Veterans can choose to join directly and anyone can refer a Veteran to join by completing the release of information form available at the Minnesota Homeless Veteran Registry webpage.
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs has partnered with the Minnesota Department of Human Services and the United States Social Security Administration to provide Minnesota’s homeless and at-risk Veterans with expanded access to Social Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Learn more at our SOAR page.
Resources to help Veterans end homelessness are listed on LinkVet and include the following programs:
