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Veterans Services reports drop in logged contacts; staff outline homelessness prevention coordination
Summary
Veterans Services presented its quarterly report to the Health & Human Services Committee, noted a decline of about 2,000 logged contacts from the prior year and described coordination with Macomb Community Action, Detroit VA and other agencies on homelessness prevention and HUD‑VASH voucher referrals.
The Health & Human Services Committee received Veterans Services’ quarterly report and discussed outreach, casework volume and homelessness‑prevention efforts for veterans.
Laura, the Veterans Services presenter, told commissioners the office had “about 2,000 less contacts, customers than last year” and said the discrepancy was likely partly an administrative recording issue: one staff member who handles the majority of calls does not always have time to log contacts. Laura said the office will work to correct its recording process and provide more accurate counts.
Laura described how the county coordinates with Macomb Community Action and the Detroit VA to prevent and address veteran homelessness. She explained Macomb Community Action maintains supportive services funds for veterans and families and that the HUD‑VASH voucher program — administered by VA staff working with HUD vouchers — provides rental subsidy where eligible veterans pay approximately 30% of income toward rent and the VA covers the rest.
Commissioner questions and numbers
Commissioner Howard asked whether the county has veteran‑specific homelessness numbers. Ed, a Community Action staff member, said the county’s last verified point‑in‑time homeless count recorded “about 450 for Macomb County,” but that the point‑in‑time count does not separate veterans from the general homeless count. Ed said Macomb Community Action and partner agencies maintain by‑name lists and weekly coordination meetings to prioritize veterans in shelters, those living in vehicles or at risk of eviction.
Laura and Ed both said that services to prevent and resolve veteran homelessness rely on a coalition of agencies and multiple funding sources; staff agreed to provide current veteran homelessness figures to commissioners by email.
Action
The committee voted to receive and file the Veterans Services quarterly report; the motion passed 12–0.
Ending
Staff noted potential federal funding changes that could affect veteran housing programs and reiterated that continued interagency coordination under the by‑name list is the local approach to preventing and addressing veteran homelessness.
