Q&A
Length of stay in veteran homeless shelters
0:54:56
ยท
113 sec
Council Member Kristy Marmorato inquires about the average length of stay for veterans in homeless shelters. Officials from the Department of Veterans' Services and Department of Homeless Services provide detailed responses, explaining that the duration varies based on individual circumstances and readiness for housing placement.
- Average stay for single veterans is 295 days, families with children 227 days, and adult families 262 days
- Factors affecting length of stay include documentation readiness, mental health stability, and individual housing preferences
- Officials emphasize the importance of ensuring veterans are stable and prepared for independent living before moving out
Kristy Marmorato
0:54:56
So just to again, just touch on what is the general length of time for a stay at a veteran's homeless shelter?
Lamarr Wheeler
0:55:06
That's a good question.
0:55:10
It really depends on how ready the individual is for housing placement.
0:55:16
And sometimes the holdup is not having all the necessary documentation for that process.
0:55:23
For processing for a housing subsidy, there are certain documents that are required.
0:55:28
Okay.
Sonya Russell
0:55:29
And if I'm I'm sorry.
Alex Stein
0:55:30
Go ahead.
Sonya Russell
0:55:30
If I may.
0:55:31
So specifically for the veterans in shelter, and again, not specific to boarding, but the average length of stay for single veterans is two hundred and ninety five days.
0:55:40
For families with children is two hundred and twenty seven days, and for adult families is two hundred and sixty two days.
Kristy Marmorato
0:55:45
That's a very long time.
Sonya Russell
0:55:48
It is.
0:55:49
But as Lamar pointed out, the importance of meeting with these veterans, and while our goal is to assist them in moving out as expeditiously as possible, we have to understand that they are in shelter for a reason.
0:56:04
There are circumstances that brought them there, and we wanna ensure that we are meeting their needs where they are and how we can help stabilize them.
0:56:13
A number of our veterans, again, as chair has pointed out, suffer from mental illness.
0:56:19
So it's important for us to ensure that they're stable, that once they move out into independent living, that they stay in their homes, whether it's supportive housing, whether it's by way of city for HEPS, by way of cut VAS through CCM.
0:56:35
So it's important why we wanna make sure that those individuals, while it may take a little bit longer, where you see the two ninety five, we wanna ensure that they are ready to stay in out into the in independent living.
0:56:49
Yeah.
Kristy Marmorato
0:56:49
I I have I mean, I lived it.