The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans is pleased to welcome Douglas A. Collins, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Jeremiah Workman, Assistant Secretary for Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) at the U.S. Department of Labor, as keynote speakers at #NCHV2026.
Bringing together national leaders, frontline providers, advocates, researchers, and partners from across the country, NCHV’s annual conference serves as a critical space for collaboration, innovation, and action in the effort to end veteran homelessness. This year’s keynote sessions will provide attendees with the opportunity to hear directly from two leaders whose work and lived experiences continue to shape the national conversation around veteran services, employment, transition support, and long-term stability for those who served.
Secretary Collins was sworn in as the 12th Secretary of Veterans Affairs in February 2025. A veteran, attorney, pastor, and former member of Congress, Collins has spent decades in public service and military ministry. As a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and former Navy Reserve chaplain, he has served military communities both at home and abroad, including a deployment to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Assistant Secretary Workman brings a deeply personal and powerful perspective to the conversation. A decorated Marine Corps combat veteran and recipient of the Navy Cross and Purple Heart, Workman has dedicated his post-service career to supporting veterans and their families through government, nonprofit, and community leadership roles. As Assistant Secretary for VETS at the Department of Labor, he oversees efforts to connect veterans with meaningful employment opportunities and critical workforce resources nationwide.
At #NCHV2026, attendees can expect important conversations centered on the future of veteran services, federal priorities, collaboration across sectors, and the ongoing work required to ensure every veteran has access to housing, opportunity, and support.
The conference will bring together professionals and leaders from across housing, healthcare, employment, government, and community services to share strategies, strengthen partnerships, and advance solutions that move the field forward.
Registration for #NCHV2026 is now open.