VA-HUD: Homelessness Among Veterans Declines 12% in 2011

Obama Administration on Track to End Veteran Homelessness by 2015, Announces $100 Million to Expand Homeless Prevention Program

WASHINGTON – The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development today announced that a new national report shows that homelessness among Veterans has been reduced by nearly 12 percent between January 2010 and January 2011. The 12 percent decline keeps the Obama Administration on track to meet the goal of ending Veteran homelessness in 2015.
"This new report is good news for the tens of thousands of Veterans we have helped find a home. Our progress in the fight against homelessness has been significant, but our work is not complete until no Veteran has to sleep on the street," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "We have been successful in achieving this milestone due to strong leadership from the President and hard work by countless community organizations and our federal, state, and local partners who are committed to helping Veterans and their families get back on their feet." more 

VHA Health Eligibility Center Health Benefits Website

VHA Health Eligibility Center launched a new Health Benefits website Nov 11, to enhance communications with Veterans.  The new site www.va.gov/healthbenefitsreplaces the Health Eligibility website (www.va.gov/healtheligibility/), and is designed for easier navigation and is more interactive to enhance the user's experience.  The new site will be an online portal for Veterans, family members and care givers to learn about eligibility, enrollment options and benefits offered by VHA.  It also provides detailed information about how to apply for VHA health services, cost of care, accessing VA health care and VA's Medical Benefits Package. The Health Benefits website provides the following new features simple, easy instructions on how to obtain and access health benefits, medical benefits package and priority group information, income threshold determination and copay mapping.

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A sample wristband shows some of the color-coded alerts patients will begin seeing May 1 at all VISN 6 facilities. (Photo by Dennis Mehring)

By Mary Tatum, VISN 6 Patient Safety Officer

Color-coded alert wristbands, or labels on patient wristbands, are used in hospitals to quickly communicate a certain healthcare status, condition, or "alert," especially when the clinicians are unfamiliar with patient conditions. Beginning May 1, all VISN 6 facilities will use standard colors for alert wristbands recommended by the American Hospital Association and state organizations within North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. The most commonly used wristbands include RED for allergies, YELLOW for falling risks, and PURPLE indicating "Do Not Resuscitate." At some VA medical centers, including Asheville, Beckley, Hampton, Richmond and Salem, you may also see PINK armbands for "Restricted Extremity" to prevent drawing blood or IV access. GREEN is being used at Asheville, Beckley, and Hampton to identify a latex allergy.