In 2009, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published the 2009 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress.

Today, HUD released the first-ever report on veteran homelessness in America. The analysis expands on the 2009 report, exploring the demographics of homeless veterans, how veterans compare to others who are homeless, and how veterans access and use our country's homeless response system.

According to the report, nearly 76,000 veterans were homeless on a given night in 2009. About 136,000 slept in a shelter at some point during 2009.

HUD and the federal Department of Veterans Administration (VA) jointly run the VASH (Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing) program, which connects homeless veterans with both housing and services.

Locally, the Portland Housing Bureau is working to serve our veterans experiencing homelessness. The Block 49 project in the South Waterfront will include units reserved for veterans, and we partner closely with our local VA office to make sure we get out fair share of VASH vouchers.

Homeless vets: Local housing efforts need bipartisan federal support

Commissioner Fish and PHB Director Margaret Van Vliet in the Oregonian

Veteran Homelessness: A Supplemental Report to the 2009 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress

USA Today: "Veterans more likely to be homeless, study says"

PHB's Block 49 project