•June 22, 2016•

Carolyn W. Colvin, the Acting Commissioner of Social Security, and other leaders in the fight to end homelessness gathered today to continue the ongoing battle against homelessness among veterans, seniors, and other vulnerable populations.

“Social Security plays a key role in reducing homelessness, and our benefit payments help people to secure and maintain stable housing,” Acting Commissioner Colvin said. “Social Security is the most successful anti-poverty program in our country’s history and collaborates with other federal, state and local agencies to ensure that veterans, people who are disabled, have lost a loved one, or are retiring have access to our benefits and services.”

Acting Commissioner Colvin joined with federal and state officials to discuss initiatives to end homelessness and outreach programs to vulnerable populations, including veterans, at a forum called “Ending Homelessness: Lessons Learned from the Commonwealth of Virginia.” Representatives from the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Virginia Department of Veterans Services, and the Virginia Housing Alliance participated in the discussion.

In 2015, Virginia announced that it had ended homelessness among veterans. Many federal and state agencies are looking to replicate best practices from Virginia’s success in their respective states.      Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.