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Opportunity Center: VA-led three-day surge contacted 313 unhoused people; veterans may be undercounted
Summary
The Opportunity Center described a VA-mandated three-day outreach that encountered 313 unhoused people across El Paso, completed 157 assessments and identified between 13 and 27 unhoused veterans; organizers warned ARPA-funded homelessness efforts expire in December 2026 and urged sustainable funding.
John Martin, deputy director of the Opportunity Center for the Homeless, told the Veterans Advisory Commission that a VA-led outreach surge on three days in late July contacted 313 unhoused people in El Paso, completed assessments for 157 and identified 13 unhoused veterans by assessment (8.3% of assessed) but noted debriefing suggested the veteran count could be 27 (17.2%).
Martin said the outreach divided the city into six geographic areas tied to El Paso Police Department command centers and used more than 85 volunteers and community partners. He said the welcome center…
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