The purpose of this project was to design a program, identify potential funding sources, and write a grant to fund a Supported Housing program for homeless veterans with mental illness in Los Angeles County. An extensive literature was conducted on scope of the problem and the effectiveness of a specific housing model.

Two factors contribute to veteran homelessness; Personal and structural factors. Personal factors such as mental illness, substance abuse, co-occurring disorders, physical disabilities, and lack of social support increased the risk of homelessness and structural factors such as poverty, housing, employment, certain military vocations, safety net resources, and multiple deployments to combat zones.

Supported Housing was effective at reducing veteran homelessness. This model of housing is designed to increase independent living and successful integration in the community for individuals with mental illness.

A search for potential funding sources via the Non Profit library in Los Angeles and the Internet resulted in the selection of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act authorizing the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

A search for potential funding sources via the Non Profit library in Los Angeles and the Internet resulted in the selection of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act authorizing the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as the best funding source for this project. A grant was then written for a Supported Housing program that helps homeless military veterans with mental illness in their recovery.