Health Care for Homeless Veterans Programs

The Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) program is a group of Veterans Affairs (VA) homeless services. These efforts include a number of specialized programs.  The core program involves:

• Outreach to veterans living on the streets and in shelters who do not seek assistance on their own  
• Evaluation, treatment, and referral for physical and psychiatric disorders, including substance abuse  
• Assistance with housing, case management, and rehabilitation  
• Referral to employment assistance: National HCHV Webpage

Program Descriptions

The West Palm Beach VA Medical Center Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Program has been around since 2000.  The program consists of the Homeless Veteran Outreach Team, the Veterans' Resource Center, and the Grant and Per Diem program.  Several programs are in development and this information will be updated as more services are offered.

• The Homeless Outreach Team includes a Social Worker and Physician Assistant who spend about 75% of their time working in the community.  The mission is to contact homeless veterans and provide treatment services. The goal is to return the veteran to their highest level of functioning.  This is done in a community setting. The team looks for homeless veterans in soup kitchens, halfway houses, treatment facilities, street corners, woods, and wherever the homeless might be found.
• The Veterans' Resource Center is a separate building on the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center property.  It is a drop-in center for homeless veterans. There are a variety of services available: supportive social services, shower and laundry facilities, clothes closet, and food pantry. 
• The Grant and Per Diem (G&PD) Program was created to pay community agencies to provide services to homeless veterans. The services will include supportive housing and/or supportive services. The goal is to help homeless veterans find housing, improve their level of functioning, and obtain greater independence.

Annual Events

The West Palm Beach VA HCHV Program hosts two major annual events:

• Project CHALENG (Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups) is a program to improve VA and community communication. The idea behind Project CHALENG is to encourage cooperation and communication between the VA and community.  Annual meetings are hosted by the West Palm Beach HCHV for VA staff and community agencies that provide homeless services.
  • Contact: Carla daSilva (561) 422-7503
    Project CHALENG Homepage
• Stand Down events are one to three day events providing services to homeless veterans.  Services can include food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling, and referrals to other services.  These other services include housing, employment and substance abuse treatment.  Stand Downs are planned by local VA Medical Centers, and include other government and community agencies that serve the homeless.
  • Contact: Carla daSilva (561) 422-7503
    Stand Down Homepage

Contact Information for Program Staff

Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Program
West Palm Beach VAMC/116s
7305 North Military Trail
West Palm Beach FL 33410
Fax: (561) 422- 6856