For many Vietnam veterans, the fight didn’t end when they came home.
“I joined the military in 1969. I’m a Vietnam vet,” Willie Stanley recalled. “I’ve struggled with substance abuse for years, on and off. I’ve been in and out of homelessness for over a decade. I pray this time is the last time—my health isn’t what it used to be.”
His story is familiar to many. Veterans experiencing homelessness often face a host of barriers to health care—transportation challenges, no phone or computer access, and sometimes not even an address to receive prescriptions. For many, the only option is the emergency room, which fragments care and pushes them into crisis more quickly.
“Individuals experiencing homelessness in the community, as well as veterans, often utilize health care through emergent means,” explained Dr. Elizabeth Call, a physician and psychiatrist at Ralph H Johnson VA hospital in Charleston. “If you don’t have an address, you can’t get medications mailed to you. And without a support system, no one can take you to appointments. They really are very isolated and alone in their medical care.”
To bridge those gaps,Veterans Affairs created theHomeless Patient Aligned Care Team (HPACT) and expandedmobile medical units. These programs bring primary care, mental health support, and housing services directly to veterans.
“We take the care to them,” said Adama Johnson, facility telehealth coordinator with Ralph H Johnson VA hospital. “That eliminates barriers for rural veterans, or for those facing mental health or financial challenges. We can help them feel connected with the services they deserve.”
The mobile units provide much of what a hospital would: vitals checks, medication refills, and preventive care. Telehealth has added another layer of access, allowing providers to join via video and use attachments like stethoscopes and otoscopes to perform full exams from a distance.
“Telehealth has really added a kind of rapid access component to our outreach,” said Dr. Call. “By having video capabilities, I can provide same-day, same-time assessments.”
Beyond immediate care, the VA also emphasizes housing stability. Because homelessness can be a recurring struggle, keeping veterans engaged in medical and mental health services reduces the risk of returning to unstable living conditions.
For Willie Stanley, that support has been life changing. “Things are looking up,” he said. “I’m thankful to the VA and to people who take the time to come out, understand our problems, and help us find solutions.”