FILE – In this March 7, 2017, file photo, Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin, addresses a House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. In a May 5 interview with the Associated Press, Shulkin said he thinks reducing the number of homeless veterans nationwide from roughly 40,000 to 10,000 or 15,000 is an “achievable goal” for the Trump administration. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)
(The Associated Press)
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The new Veterans Affairs chief shares the goal set by former President Barack Obama’s administration of ending homelessness among veterans, but says it’ll take longer than his predecessor predicted.
VA Secretary David Shulkin says reducing the number of homeless veterans nationwide from roughly 40,000 to 10,000 or 15,000 is an “achievable goal” for President Donald Trump’s administration.
Homelessness among veterans has been effectively ended in Virginia, Connecticut and Delaware and in more than 40 communities.
In January, the outgoing head of the VA, Robert McDonald, said that “we should be there” nationwide within a couple of years.
On Friday, Shulkin said, “We’re still looking at a multi-year process.”
While advocates are encouraged to hear Shulkin’s commitment, some wish he was more ambitious.
