The Omaha VA is awaiting results of a point-in-time count of homeless veterans.
The VA, along with community agencies and Housing and Urban Development, conducted the point-in-time count on January 22nd. The goal is to locate all homeless veterans, so they can be connected with housing and services.
Linda Twomey, Director of Mental Health Specialty Programs for the VA of Nebraska-western Iowa, says the number of homeless veterans in the Omaha area is down 40 percent over the past couple of years.
"Last year we counted 91 veterans when we went out and counted through the shelters and living on the street. The year before we had counted over 125 and it was higher the year before. So this year we are really hoping to find less than 75 veterans."
Twomey says the VA provides outreach and case management services to connect homeless veterans with housing. There are also transitional and emergency housing programs.
In 2012, the VA provided services to 240,000 homeless veterans, or those at risk of becoming homeless, nationwide.