Bringing Veterans Home Initiative

Bringing Veterans Home Initiative is sponsored by New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DVA). A collaborative effort aiming to house all homeless veterans in New Jersey by July 1, 2026, and strengthen the state's homelessness prevention system.

Behind the Wheel | Bringing Veterans Home Posted: 04/16/2026 by DCA The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is committed to ending veteran homelessness through our Bringing Veterans Home (BVH) program by strengthening support systems, providing rapid access to housing, and ensuring that homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring.

Our comprehensive approach focuses on two key metrics that indicate success in ending veteran homelessness. These measurable outcomes help us track progress and ensure our efforts are making a real impact. Maintain fewer homeless veterans than can be housed within 30 days, with rapid response systems in place to quickly address and resolve veteran homelessness through coordinated regional efforts.

Ensure veterans are connected to stable housing faster than new cases arise through our comprehensive support network and regional partnerships. Bringing Veterans Home (BVH) creates a clear path to stable housing for veterans experiencing homelessness through a coordinated network of services and support.

Street Outreach: Direct engagement with veterans experiencing homelessness Diversion: Prevention strategies to help veterans avoid entering the homeless system Rapid Rehousing: Quick placement into permanent housing with support services Housing Navigation: Assistance in finding and securing suitable housing Emergency Shelter: Immediate, temporary housing for veterans in crisis Regional Coordination: Coordinated services across counties and jurisdictions Click here to track the progress in real-time with key metrics and outcomes that demonstrate the impact in ending veteran homelessness across NJ.

Garden State Home , a veteran service organization and BVH partner, shared insights on the realities veterans face when seeking housing and why collaboration is essential. Many veterans lack basic identification documents, such as birth certificates, Social Security cards, and state IDs. Without them, veterans are unable to apply for housing vouchers, complete apartment applications, or access critical support services.

Staff at Garden State Home assist veterans directly to schedule appointments, provide transportation, and in some cases, accompany them to ensure these barriers do not stop progress. A common misconception is that veterans experiencing homelessness are not trying hard enough.

In reality, many are working extremely hard while facing systemic barriers including high credit score requirements, prior evictions, criminal records, and bias against extremely low-income renters. Garden State Home uses dedicated Housing Navigators and a Landlord Engagement Specialist to help advocate for veterans and expand their housing opportunities.

While many strong veteran housing programs exist, navigating eligibility and coordinating the right combination of services can be challenging. Veterans who served in the National Guard or Reserves, or who have unfavorable discharges, are often ineligible for some of those housing programs. Bringing Veterans Home plays a critical role by offering broader eligibility and flexible support.

Through detailed intake and close coordination with partners such as Soldier On, Community Hope, and NJ SOS, organizations can layer services effectively, move referrals quickly, and ensure veterans are connected to every available resource. Success Through Collaboration Success is measured not only by placement, but by permanence.

One year after being housed, success means a veteran is living independently, maintaining stable housing, and no longer requiring ongoing crisis intervention. If a veteran is meeting their goals, staying housed, and continuing to build toward long-term stability, that’s a true BVH success. Collaboration among veteran-serving organizations is essential to achieving these outcomes.

No single agency can meet all of a veteran’s needs, particularly in high-barrier cases that require extended support. By working together, providers can coordinate services, prevent gaps when resources are limited, and keep veterans engaged until permanent housing is secured. This coordinated approach strengthens outcomes and helps ensure veterans do not return to crisis while waiting for the next step.

After returning home from a 10-month deployment, military veteran Dionna Way faced housing instability while caring for her young daughter. Unable to secure permanent housing, she relied on temporary arrangements with family and friends and, at times, slept in her car when no other options were available. Dionna learned about Bringing Veterans Home through outreach from the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

When she read about the program’s mission to help veterans experiencing homelessness secure stable housing, she knew it was the answer she had been praying for. After connecting with Garden State Home, she was reassured that she and her daughter were not alone, even when she initially felt embarrassed asking for help.

Through the program, Dionna and her daughter received comprehensive support, including emergency hotel stays, food and hygiene supplies, and even toys for her daughter during a difficult time. A Housing Navigator worked closely with Dionna, accompanying her to apartment viewings and helping overcome financial barriers caused by unemployment by covering her security deposit and first three months of rent.

The program ultimately helped Dionna secure permanent housing, providing her daughter with her own bedroom and access to a stable school. Today, having a safe and consistent home has eased Dionna’s mental health and allowed her to regain a sense of independence. “Home is where the love is,” she shared.

“It’s where my daughter can kick off her shoes after school, where we sit to eat dinner together at the kitchen table, and where I can untie my boots and leave my problems at the door. ” Dionna encourages other veterans who may be struggling to reach out for support. “The shame, embarrassment, fear, and dark thoughts are not yours alone,” she shared.

“Bringing Veterans Home is the stepping stone to help you regain your independence, reclaim your life, and have a fresh start. From the moment you reach out, you gain endless support -- you won’t have to struggle alone. Don’t let the voices of fear scare you from the hand that wants to help you.

” Garden State Home shared the experience of a veteran who had been unhoused in Red Bank for several years and faced significant barriers to housing, including substance use and difficulty maintaining consistent contact. Despite challenges, staff remained engaged through persistent outreach and support. Once the veteran was approved for a housing voucher, his motivation and engagement increased significantly.

With continued guidance from a Housing Navigator, he secured permanent housing within one month and even stopped his alcohol usage. The stability of having a place to call home became a turning point, laying the foundation for improved well-being and long-term progress. Dionna encourages other veterans who may be struggling to reach out for support.

“The shame, embarrassment, fear, and dark thoughts are not yours alone,” she shared. “Bringing Veterans Home is the stepping stone to help you regain your independence, reclaim your life, and have a fresh start. From the moment you reach out, you gain endless support -- you won’t have to struggle alone.

Don’t let the voices of fear scare you from the hand that wants to help you. ” Referrals can be made through existing coordinated entry systems, via community partners, or self-referral. Please visit the Bringing Veterans Home official website to find out more: Bringing Veterans Home | NJ Department of Community Affairs.

NJ 211: Need Help? Start Here New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Visit https://www. nj.

gov/dca Stay informed and empowered with the resources provided by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.