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Politics & Government

Palo Alto VA: Veteran Homelessness Drops

The steepest decline was reported on the Peninsula.

 

Veteran homelessness dropped a stunning 79 percent in San Mateo County from 2011 to 2012, according to the VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS). That was the steepest decline in the eleven Northern California counties served by the agency.

Every county saw a decrease except for Santa Clara County, where the number remained unchanged.

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Overall, the eleven counties saw a 12 percent decline.

The homeless count is conducted each January, through a multi-agency task force. All homeless people are counted, not just veterans.

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“I’m proud of the efforts of our homeless programs, our Ending Veteran Homelessness Workgroups, and the critical efforts of our community partners,” said Kate Severin, chief of Domiciliary Services at VAPAHCS.

The VA has partnered with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to attack homelessness through rental vouchers, rehabilitation programs and other initiatives.

Total Homeless Veterans (2011)

Total Homeless Veterans (2012)

Alameda

98

88

Amador, Calaveras and Tuolumne

25

24

Monterey and San Benito

296

290

San Joaquin

112

80

San Mateo

324

173

Santa Clara

667

667

Santa Cruz

276

271

Stanislaus

73

49

TOTAL

1,871

1,642

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