Housing stability as suicide prevention: How VA is connecting the dots

Preventing homelessness can help prevent suicide

September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to recognize the many factors that can affect a person’s risk for suicide, including housing instability.

For a Veteran facing homelessness, not knowing where they will sleep or whether they will have a place to live tomorrow can feel overwhelming. Housing instability can also compound other challenges, including health concerns, financial hardships, substance use, unemployment or strained relationships.

The compounded stresses of housing instability are particularly high right before a Veteran actually becomes homeless. Specifically, when Veterans are afraid of losing their home and uncertain about the future of their housing, that anxiety can quickly turn into a suicide crisis. Similarly, for Veterans experiencing chronic homelessness, unexpected barriers in connecting to housing services can lead to increased suicide risk. Helping Veterans effectively address housing challenges can ease some of these stresses and be an important part of suicide prevention.

According to VA’s 2025 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, the suicide rate in 2023 among homeless Veterans who recently received VHA care was 146% higher than among Veterans without a homelessness diagnosis. The report also found that among homeless Veterans, those who received VA homeless program services had a 33.7% lower suicide rate than those who did not receive these services.

These findings highlight the importance of addressing homelessness early and connecting Veterans with housing and supportive services.

Housing stability supports suicide prevention

There is no single risk factor for Veteran suicide, and Veterans at risk for suicide rarely experience just one challenge at a time.

VA homeless programs take a whole-person approach, helping Veterans address the challenges affecting their safety, health and housing stability. Depending on their needs, that may include help finding permanent, temporary or transitional housing, as well as helping Veterans access healthcare, employment, benefits, legal services, substance use treatment and connections to community resources.

These services can reduce stress and instability while connecting Veterans with the clinical care they need. As a result, housing assistance and homelessness prevention efforts can support overall well-being, increase psychosocial functioning and reduce suicide risk factors.

Connection creates opportunities for prevention

In addition to addressing housing challenges, VA works to identify suicide risk and connect Veterans with the support they need before it becomes a crisis. Through suicide risk screenings and evaluations incorporated into VA care, more Veterans in need of additional support can be identified. For Veterans participating in certain homeless programs, screening also occurs as part of the program intake process.

These screenings help ensure that Veterans who are struggling are not overlooked because of their appearance, circumstances or diagnosis. They also create opportunities for Veterans to talk about challenges they may be experiencing and connect with support before those challenges become more difficult to manage.

When a Veteran is identified as being at potentially elevated risk, VA providers can offer further evaluation and ultimately connect the Veteran to evidence-based interventions, such as lethal means safety and safety planning.

Additional treatments can also be provided to these Veterans; for example, mental health care, medication and interdisciplinary support from members of the care team, as well as steps to make the Veteran’s environment safer through strategies like lethal means safety.

While these interventions can help when a Veteran is identified as being at risk, prevention is often most effective when support begins before an acute crisis occurs.

Support starts before a crisis

Prevention happens through trust, connection and a willingness to meet Veterans where they are. Veterans do not have to wait until a situation feels like an emergency to ask for help. Reaching out early can make it easier to address challenges before they become a crisis.

That support extends beyond VA.

VA’s homeless programs are part of a broader system of care connecting Veterans with the support they need, and community members can also play an important role. VA S.A.V.E. training is free and available to anyone who wants to learn how to recognize signs that a Veteran may be at risk, ask about suicide, respond with compassion and help connect them to care.

If you are a Veteran experiencing homelessness or housing instability, remember: VA is here to help! Call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838 for help connecting with VA homeless programs.

If you or a Veteran you know is experiencing a crisis or having thoughts of suicide, the Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7. Dial 988, then press 1, text 838255, or chat online for confidential support.

Learn about VA programs

• If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at risk of homelessness or need to connect with a Veterans Justice Outreach specialist, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838.
• Learn more about one Veteran’s journey through illness, homelessness and healing.
• Learn about the Seven Essential Elements to End Homelessness.
• Visit the VA Homeless Programs website to learn about housing initiatives and other programs for Veterans exiting homelessness.
• Get involved with housing homeless Veterans.