VA to Hold Homeless Veteran Event Wednesday

The Department of Veterans Affairs, San Diego, will hold a Homeless Veterans Outreach Campaign Wednesday to inform veterans about the programs available to them if they are homeless or close to it.

Michael Cardarelli, VA principal deputy undersecretary for benefits, will speak at the event, to be held at the Veterans Memorial Center in Balboa Park, 2115 Park Blvd., San Diego at 9:30 a.m.

The event is part of the VA’s goal to end veteran homelessness by 2015.

In addition to providing housing, employment and healthcare services to homeless veterans, the VA has secured funding to help veterans who are in risk of becoming homeless.

VA San Diego’s acting healthcare director, Robert M. Smith, said in the release that his agency is committed to assisting homeless veterans in the area.

“Our homeless Veterans outreach team has been working very hard to reach out to our community and provide supportive and transitional housing, health care, and assistance with legal issues to help the Veterans get their lives back on track.”

Veterans interested in those services can call the VA National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. The center is staffed 24 hours a day by trained counselors.