A partnership between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the “100,000 Homes” Campaign, as well as its 117 participating communities, will provide permanent homes for 10,000 homeless Veterans within the year.

The partnership is an effort towards reaching the goal of VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki to end homelessness among Veterans by 2015. In addition, the collaboration will support ongoing efforts of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and various state and local organizations towards implementing the federal plan to end chronic and Veterans homelessness, called “Opening Doors.”

The initiative will work with VA resources and the resources of participants in the “100,000 Homes” campaign in order to better integrate the efforts of VA case managers and their local partners.

VA Secretary Shinseki shared: “President Obama and I are personally committed to ending homelessness among Veterans… Those who have served this Nation as Veterans should never find themselves on the streets, living without care and without hope.”

In 2009, Shinseki and President Barack Obama announced the goal to end Veteran homelessness by 2015, and in FY 2011, the VA pledged $800 million towards making programs to prevent and end homelessness among Veterans more robust.

Homeless Veterans will be identified by volunteers in participating “100,000 Homes” campaign through their registry week process, a community-wide effort where volunteers conduct a survey of homeless individuals in their neighborhoods, and gather information that will be used by VA case managers to expedite the housing process.

Campaign support staff will also conduct quality improvement training that will help shorten the Veteran housing process for homeless Vets in 90 days or less.