The Erie VA Medical Center has housed 79 Veterans experiencing homelessness in Western Pennsylvania this fiscal year. 

According to the medical center, a total of 96.2 percent of those veterans have not returned to homelessness, and 40 unsheltered veterans in the network have been engaged to ensure they have access to the housing and other wraparound services they need. 

Nationally, the VA housed 43,116 veterans during the same time period.

The VA says preventing and eliminating veteran homelessness is a top priority for the organization, along with the entire Biden-Harris administration. 

Between 2022 and 2023, the VA permanently housed nearly 87,000 veterans. As a result, the number of veterans experiencing homelessness in the U.S. has fallen by over 4 percent since early 2020 and by more than 52 percent since 2010. 

“No person who has served this country should ever have to experience homelessness,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “As a result of this year’s efforts, more than 43,000 formerly homeless Veterans now have access to the homes that they deserve. And make no mistake: we won’t rest until every Veteran has a safe, stable, accessible, and affordable home to call their own.”

More information on the VA's homelessness initiatives can be found here.