Blog
Understanding SSVF: What Every Veteran Should Know
For veterans experiencing homelessness or housing instability, finding reliable support can feel overwhelming. Between navigating complex paperwork, understanding eligibility, and identifying programs that truly make a difference, many veterans are left unsure where to turn. One key program designed to provide meaningful assistance is the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF). Understanding how SSVF works, who qualifies, and how to access it can be a critical step toward stability and independence. At National Veterans Homeless Support (NVHS), we see firsthand the challenges veterans face when trying [...]
The Importance of Building Trust with Veterans in Crisis
When veterans find themselves without stable housing, they often carry more than just the weight of survival. Many have been let down by systems that were supposed to protect them, faced closed doors when seeking care, or struggled to navigate complicated benefits processes that left them feeling unseen. Over time, these experiences erode trust, making it harder to believe that anyone truly wants to help. That sense of isolation can become its own kind of barrier, keeping veterans from the very support that could change their lives. National Veterans Homeless [...]
Top 5 Reasons to Run the NVHS 5K This Year
Sometimes it can feel hard to know how to make a real difference for veterans struggling with homelessness and instability. The Homestretch 5K transforms that uncertainty into action, giving every participant a chance to directly impact the lives of those who served. By joining this community-focused event, you not only enjoy a fun and engaging race experience, but you also help fund critical programs like outreach, transitional housing, and essential support services. Every stride you take moves a veteran closer to stability, independence, and hope. Sign up today, lace up [...]
Veterans and the Economy: How Financial Strain Impacts Housing Stability
Economic uncertainty has touched almost every corner of American life, from the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to rising inflation and the steady climb of everyday expenses. For veterans, these financial pressures can hit even harder. Many face unique challenges transitioning from military service, and without the right support, these struggles can increase the risk of homelessness and long-term instability. Seeing how these economic challenges affect veterans is key to offering effective guidance and support. By identifying the obstacles that make daily life difficult, communities and organizations can create [...]
Why Housing First Saves Lives
Veterans experiencing homelessness face immense challenges every day. Finding a safe place to sleep is just the beginning. Without stability, addressing mental health, physical health, or employment becomes nearly impossible. The Housing First model prioritizes providing immediate access to safe housing as the first step toward recovery and long-term stability. Housing First is not about waiting until a veteran meets certain requirements. Instead, it focuses on providing security first so that veterans can address other challenges from a stable foundation. For those experiencing homelessness, this approach can mean the difference [...]
VA Health Programs: Navigating Benefits for Veterans
Accessing healthcare can be a complex and sometimes overwhelming process for veterans. Injuries, chronic conditions, or service-related medical concerns often require specialized care. Meanwhile, figuring out what benefits you qualify for and how to access them can be confusing. Fortunately, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a wide range of health resources and services for eligible veterans. Understanding what is available and how to navigate the system can make a world of difference. National Veterans Homeless Support (NVHS) works alongside veterans to ensure they understand and access the care [...]
From Tent to Keys: Inside NVHS’s Housing Process
Finding a safe and stable place to live can feel like navigating a maze with no exit for veterans experiencing homelessness. The daily challenges of life on the streets, unpredictability, safety risks, and limited access to essential services, can create a constant weight on both mind and body. Many veterans face these hurdles alone, unsure where to turn or how to start rebuilding. At National Veterans Homeless Support (NVHS), we guide veterans through this journey, turning uncertainty into clarity and giving you the tools to regain stability. By connecting you [...]
From Struggle to Stability: How NVHS Helps Veterans Reclaim Lives
For many veterans, moving from military service to civilian life can feel like navigating a maze. Securing housing, managing finances, and caring for loved ones can quickly become overwhelming. For veterans experiencing homelessness, these challenges are amplified by isolation and uncertainty, making daily life feel impossible. National Veterans Homeless Support (NVHS) provides guidance, transitional housing programs, resources, and hands-on support to help veterans regain stability and rebuild their lives. The veterans and families we serve show that with the right support, even the toughest circumstances can shift toward hope and [...]
Keeping Veterans Safe With NVHS’s PTSA Program
For many veterans, the burden of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is invisible yet relentless. Memories of service, sudden flashbacks, restless nights, and heightened anxiety can follow them far beyond the battlefield, turning everyday life into a constant challenge. When homelessness enters the picture, the weight grows heavier, making isolation and uncertainty feel impossible to overcome. Finding trustworthy resources, understanding available support, and knowing where to turn can leave veterans and their families feeling lost and exhausted. The PTSA Program from National Veterans Homeless Support (NVHS) lights a path through this [...]
September Is Suicide Prevention Month: How You Can Help Save a Veteran’s Life
September marks Suicide Prevention Month, a time to confront a crisis that touches far too many veterans. For those experiencing homelessness, the day-to-day fight for survival can deepen feelings of isolation, despair, and hopelessness. Left unchecked, these pressures can quietly build, creating moments of intense danger that go unnoticed. There is a way forward. By learning to recognize distress, offering support, and connecting veterans to trusted resources, we can transform despair into hope and vulnerability into safety. Every conversation, check-in, and act of compassion can give a veteran a lifeline [...]
The Lifeline Every Veteran Should Know About: 988
For veterans experiencing homelessness, life can feel overwhelming. The day-to-day struggle of not knowing where you'll sleep, how you'll find your next meal, or how to cope with the weight of invisible scars can take a heavy toll. These challenges often leave you feeling isolated, worn down, and unsure if there's a way forward. Yet even in the darkest moments, there are real reasons to hold on. There are people who understand what you're facing, who are trained to listen without judgment, and who want to help you rediscover [...]
Heroes Beyond Homelessness
When most people think of a hero, they picture someone in uniform who stood strong for their country. Yet many of those same heroes come home to battles no one sees, like the struggle of losing housing or the fear of not knowing where to sleep at night. That kind of weight can leave you feeling cut off and stuck in a cycle that seems impossible to break. But there is another side to this story: with the right support, stability can return, and life can open up again. That [...]