Washington, DC — The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) is aware of the newly announced memorandum of understanding between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Justice intended to help ensure that some of the nation’s most vulnerable veterans receive timely and appropriate care.

Ensuring that vulnerable veterans receive appropriate care is essential. In some circumstances, the appointment of a legal guardian can help veterans access treatment and transition safely to more appropriate care settings. However, guardianship and other forms of involuntary intervention are serious legal actions that remove significant personal autonomy. They must be used sparingly, with strong safeguards, and always with the best interests and rights of the veteran at the center of the process.

Many veterans experiencing homelessness are already navigating complex health challenges, trauma, and systemic barriers to care. Policies that expand legal authority over a veteran’s decision making risk undermining trust between veterans and the systems designed to support them if they are not implemented with extreme care and transparency.

NCHV urges federal agencies to ensure that any new policy affecting vulnerable veterans is implemented with clear oversight, strong due process protections, and close coordination with community providers. It is also important to understand how policies of this nature fit within the Department of Veterans Affairs’ broader strategy to prevent and end veteran homelessness. As communities across the country work to address chronic homelessness among veterans, the focus must remain on protecting veterans’ rights while expanding the housing, health care, and supportive services that help them recover, stabilize, and rebuild their lives.

NCHV remains committed to working with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Congress, and community partners to ensure that every veteran has access to the care, housing, and support they have earned through their service.