A final draft of the strategy isn’t expected to be completed and made public until later this year. Veterans affairs workers can get emergency funds from charitable trusts to help homeless veterans pay for rent or food, but the process can sometimes be lengthy, the document says. A federal shelter study estimated about 2,250 veterans use shelters annually, but cautioned the actual number may be much higher. The document says the average homeless veteran is over age 50, became homeless about 10 years after being released from service, and abuses alcohol or drugs. Kerr said his group is looking into how to harm reduction programs could work in the overall strategy.

Source: thestar August 28, 2016 21:56 UTC