DeKalb County Declares an End to Veteran Homelessness

left to right (Micheal German HUD GA Field Office Director, Annette Walker, Director, Atlanta VA Medical Center, Lee May, Interim CEO DeKalb County and Dr. Robin Jackson, Deputy Director VISN & SE Network)

For DeKalb County homeless Veterans the declaration last week that Veteran homelessness has ended is certainly good news and the result of the vision, hard work and commitment of local leadership and partners working with Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Over 100 local area and community leaders and veterans gathered as senior representatives from HUD, and Department of Veterans' Affairs joined DeKalb County Interim CEO Lee May to confirm that the county ended Veteran homelessness by developing and implementing the infrastructure and systems to ensure Veterans can receive quick access to housing and other services if they choose to do so.

"This is a celebration for the least, the lost and the left out," said May "If you are a veteran in DeKalb County and need a place to live, we will help you," he added. "There is no reason for you to be homeless here."

Michael German, HUD Georgia Field Office Director, congratulated DeKalb County, May and local leadership as well as Veteran Affairs for achieving the benchmark accomplishment and noted "that it does not mean however that homelessness does not or will not still happen, rather that there are systems in place to prevent it and help Veterans quickly receive permanent housing and supportive services if they so choose to do so."

"It just feels good to go up to a door, put my key in there, close the door and go about my business instead of wondering where I'm going to sleep tonight, or where I'm going to eat tonight," said local area Veteran Larry Mainor of Decatur who was rescued from homelessness in 2009. "The program changed my life and all that's behind me now."

In the first three quarters of 2016, the county helped 378 Dekalb County veterans find permanent housing. DeKalb County's achievement in ending Veteran homelessness is part of the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness (http://www.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/dekalb/news/dekalb-county-first-in-georgia-to-reach-functional-zero-for/article_a3d00dc8-be46-11e6-9e19-3f09795b28ea.html) which works to solidify partnerships and secure commitments to end Veteran homelessness from mayors and county leaders across the country. To date two states and thirty one communities were recognized by the USICH to have ended Veteran homelessness. DeKalb County was designated as having successfully ending Veteran homelessness after a rigorous review process with the US Interagency Council on Homelessness.

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