Houston social workers’ three-day effort to house homeless Veterans

A dedicated team of VA social workers, local police officers and community outreach staff hit the streets of Houston as part of a three-day effort to house unsheltered homeless Veterans. The team traveled throughout the city to find Veterans in homeless encampments, engage them and ultimately get them off the streets. All in all, 67 Veterans were engaged and many were housed during this national initiative, called a homeless surge event.

"Our goal during the three-day homeless surge was to work with our community partners to engage unsheltered Veterans in the community and link them to same-day interim housing and a permanent housing intervention," said Robert Birdow, program manager of Houston VA's homeless program. "It was so rewarding to find Veterans in need and get them help immediately."

According to Birdow, a number of the homeless Veterans were placed in Houston's brand new VA domiciliary, which opened in July and offers Veterans residential treatment and rehabilitation services. Other Veterans were connected to housing through grant per diem programs, VA's Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program and Houston's homeless coalition.

"Houston was one of six cities chosen to pilot this homeless surge event. We feel very honored to have been given this opportunity," Birdow said.

More than 100 staff at Houston VA work for the medical center's homeless program, which is dedicated to housing and supporting Veterans on their journey to independence. While the staff is committed to this mission all year long, the three-day surge event was very eye-opening to all involved.

"Going out as a cohesive group with our community partners to find and house Veterans allowed us to cut through the red tape and get to the heart of the matter, which is housing Veterans," said Monique Thibiduex, a social worker. "It was very heartwarming to be a part of something that made a difference in Veterans' lives right away."

Allison Bond, deputy director of VA's National Health Care for Homeless Veterans program, visited Houston to observe and participate in the homeless surge event.

"It was so refreshing to get out in the field to do outreach, talk to Veterans and see the Houston team in action," Bond said. "The Veterans in Houston are lucky to have such a dedicated team of people fighting for them."