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There are nearly 33,000 veterans experiencing homelessness in the U.S., according to government data
Rachel Dobkin in New York Wednesday 11 March 2026 20:32 GMT- Bookmark
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The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced plans to give agency attorneys legal authority to initiate guardianship proceedings for veterans experiencing homelessness that could force them into mental health care.
There are nearly 33,000 veterans experiencing homelessness in the U.S., and nearly 14,000 of those live on the streets, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report.
The new initiative gives the Department of Justice authority to appoint VA lawyers as special assistant U.S. attorneys, which allows the lawyers to initiate and participate in state court guardianship or conservatorship proceedings, according to a press release issued Wednesday.
These guardianship proceedings are for when a legal decision-maker is needed for vulnerable veterans to transition from intensive medical care to a secondary care facility.
open image in galleryThe Department of Veterans Affairs has announced plans to give agency attorneys legal authority to initiate guardianship proceedings for veterans experiencing homelessness that could force them into mental health care (Getty Images)The Trump administration has said in multiple press releases the new initiative will help veterans “avoid unwarranted continued hospitalization, protect their rights, and promote appropriate transitions of care from VA hospitalization to other forms of VA care or care in the community, if appropriate.”
But these guardianships can also force veterans experiencing homelessness into involuntary treatment for mental illness and drug addiction, The New York Times reported.
“My speculation is that they are seeking to have people placed under guardianship so they can have a person appointed who will force them into congregate or institutional settings when there isn’t anything else available,” Jennifer Mathis, the deputy director of the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, told the NYT.
The Independent has reached out to the VA and DOJ for comment.
open image in galleryAn executive order President Donald Trump issued in July directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to encourage the use of civil commitment, which is when a court orders someone to receive mental health treatment (AFP via Getty Images)An executive order President Donald Trump issued in July directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to encourage the use of civil commitment, which is when a court orders someone to receive mental health treatment.
“Shifting homeless individuals into long-term institutional settings for humane treatment through the appropriate use of civil commitment will restore public order,” the executive order read.
VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a statement Wednesday that the agency’s partnership with the DOJ “reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring that every Veteran receives timely, appropriate care, even in complex cases.”
“The Department of Justice is proud to partner with the Department of Veterans Affairs to support our nation’s brave Veterans by ensuring that they have the best legal resources available when it comes to making medical decisions and receiving timely care,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement Wednesday.
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