Supporting Age-Friendly, Supported Housing for Aging and Physically Disabled Veterans

Background and ObjectivesHomelessness among Veterans aged 55+ rose 150% from 2010-2023, reflecting a critical housing crisis. While Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) offers support, aging and disabled Veterans may require a more tailored approach. To facilitate implementation of a HUD-VASH initiative on behalf of these Veterans, we identified barriers and potential facilitators for HUD-VASH community collaborative efforts and created an implementation blueprint for optimal partnerships.Research Design and MethodsWe conducted qualitative interviews with 18 HUD-VASH Geriatric Specialists nationwide and user-centered design sessions with VHA staff and community agencies in two large healthcare systems.ResultsGuided by Shepherd (et al.) collaboration framework, challenges included communication barriers, administrative complexity, resource gaps, unclear roles, geographic diversity, and limited information sharing.Discussion and ImplicationsFindings informed a blueprint to enhance collaboration and housing stability for aging and disabled Veterans. Future research should assess its effectiveness for nationwide adoption.