HOMELESS VETERANS

VA announces homeless veterans hotline
The American Legion - June 3, 2010

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced June 3 the establishment of a new telephone hotline, the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans, to provide emergency support and resources to homeless veterans. He made the announcement as he toured the facility at the VA medical center in Canandaigua.

Family members, workers at community agencies and non-VA providers also may call the hotline at (877) 424-3838 to find out about the many programs and services available to assist homeless veterans.

Well-trained expert responders will staff the hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They will join other responders who staff VA's Suicide Prevention Hotline at Canandaigua. Responders are cross-trained to handle calls at either call center. While a responder will know which type of call is incoming, all veteran callers will be receive a brief suicide screening.

VA assistance is available for homeless veterans who may have mental-health issues, substance abuse, depression, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. The responders operating the new hotline will ensure veterans receive the help they need and deserve.

The hotline, which began service on March 1, has received 1,846 calls. Call volume is expected to grow as awareness of the service increases.