Q&A
Increase in veteran homelessness and use of SQUARES system
0:59:27
ยท
67 sec
Council Member Robert F. Holden questions the reason for the reported increase in veteran homelessness in 2024 despite existing programs and supports. Commissioner James Hendon from the Department of Veterans' Services explains that the increase is likely due to improved identification of veterans through the SQUARES system.
- The SQUARES system is used to screen all adult shelter residents for veteran status
- DHS has increased the frequency of SQUARES screenings from every few months to weekly
- Improved identification has led to more accurate reporting of veteran homelessness numbers
- New York City is noted as the only city in the country that screens all adult shelter residents for veteran status
Robert F. Holden
0:59:27
Thank you.
0:59:28
Thank you, council member.
0:59:29
Just a few more questions and then we'll go on to the public.
0:59:34
Let's talk about persistent homelessness and service gaps.
0:59:38
Despite the array of programs and supports, York City still reported an increase in veteran homelessness in 2024.
0:59:47
What does DVS think is the reason for this increase?
James Hendon
0:59:51
I think it's increased utilization of squares, mister chair.
0:59:54
What's been going on over the past, really, about two and a half years is the cadence with which DHS is using squares, is basically saying, let me take a list of all the folks who are in shelter system today.
1:00:03
This is what the all the folks in shelter are today.
1:00:06
All the adults, let's run them through this platform and see who the veterans are.
1:00:09
The cadence has it's slowly been increasing.
1:00:11
It used to be just, you know, running that, you know, just every couple of months to every couple of weeks, and now we're at a weekly place.
1:00:17
And so as we're getting as we've been increasing this cadence over time, when we know who more of these people are, that's reflected in the numbers.
1:00:24
I think that's why you've seen this escalation.
1:00:26
I gotta, once again, give the folks at DHS that Rose is the only city in the country that does this as far as running screening all adult shelter residents for veteran status.