Vets Committee Minutes.pdf

Membership: The committee consists of representatives from various organizations, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Orange County Veterans & Military Families Collaborative, and Volunteers of America.
Meeting Structure: Meetings are scheduled for the third Thursday of every odd month, from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., and may be held in person or virtually.
Current Data:
+ 235 veterans are on the Veteran Registry.
+ 242 veterans have been housed in permanent, stable housing in the last 12 months.
+ 169 veterans are experiencing unsheltered homelessness, 60 are experiencing sheltered homelessness, and 6 are in an institutional setting.
+ 115 veterans have a VASH voucher and are searching for housing.
Public Comments:
+ Suggestions to include representatives for family members of veterans and to improve data collection on student veterans at risk of homelessness.
+ Concerns about the identification process for veterans experiencing homelessness and the need for comprehensive training for outside veteran agencies.
+ Emphasis on the need for properly identifying veterans and family members of veteran households.
Vision and Purpose:
+ The committee will function as an advisory group to the CoC Board and align its efforts to prevent, reduce, and end homelessness for veterans.
+ The committee will provide leadership on the issue of veteran homelessness and coordinate efforts to better serve veterans and their families.
Next Steps:
+ Creation of a hotspot map to better understand locations of veterans experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
+ Further analysis on how shelter opportunities are presented to veterans and other populations.
+ Next meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 18, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.