This month, we’re joined by Masaki Hirayama, Health Systems Specialist with the VHA Homeless Programs Office to learn about unsheltered surge events.

Ms. Hirayama talks about how dangerous unsheltered homelessness can be for Veterans, how surge events in late 2023 helped connect unsheltered Veterans to housing resources, and important lessons learned that other communities should consider.

Veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness are strongly encouraged to contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 4AID-VET (877-424-3838) for assistance. 

Closed Caption Transcript is available at:  https://www.sharedfedtraining.org/Podcasts/EVH_S1EP27.pdf ===============================

Find your nearest VA: https://www.va.gov/find-locations

Learn more about VA resources to help homeless Veterans: https://www.va.gov/homeless

Read our blog on unsheltered surges: https://news.va.gov/128912/tackling-homelessness-veterans-where-they-are/

Read our white paper with detailed recommendations from the unsheltered surges: https://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/docs/White_Paper-Unsheltered_Surges_2023_508c.pdf