TIME: Prof. Byrne Explains How to Adapt Successful Veteran Homelessness Efforts to Non-Veterans
While homelessness among veterans has decreased by more than half since 2010, homelessness among non-veterans continues to rise. Prof. Thomas Byrne from BU School of Social Work, an expert on preventing and addressing homelessness, explains that while there are many lessons to learn from the success of veteran homelessness efforts, the solution for non-veterans is not identical and must thoughtfully adapt to their reality.
Excerpt from “Why the Major Drop in Veteran Homelessness Offers Hope for Others” by Tara Law:
“Scaling services to meet the need could be an effective strategy for reducing homelessness among other Americans, says Thomas Byrne, an associate professor at Boston University School of Social Work and an investigator for the Bedford, Mass. VA health care system. ‘If we were to make access to those programs universal for people who meet income eligibility criteria, that would probably be the best thing that we could do for them to prevent homelessness from occurring,’ says Byrne.
The VA also draws upon one of its biggest assets—its integrated health system—to identify veterans who are at risk. Since 2012, everyone who interacts with the health system is screened for homelessness or housing instability at least annually. The health system then connects veterans who are at risk with a flexible range of services. For instance, a person who is unstably housed might only receive rental subsidies, whereas another person might be placed in supportive permanent housing that can provide intensive resources like substance use or mental health treatment, perhaps through VA health services or the local community.
As most Americans don’t have access to such a comprehensive healthcare system, it would be difficult to directly copy the VA’s success. However, says Byrne, the health care system, which many homeless people interact with, could play a role in the crisis; for instance, some states have drawn on Medicaid to help provide supportive housing.”