The Unkeepable Promise: How America Abandoned the Program That Saved Its Veterans

*The Unkeepable Promise: How America Abandoned the Program That Saved Its Veterans*

*The Housing First program* was a national initiative aimed at reducing homelessness among U.S. veterans.

Launched 13 years ago, the program provided housing to homeless veterans without requiring preconditions such as sobriety or employment.

Its impact was undeniable — homelessness among veterans dropped by nearly 55 percent.

Still, around 33,000 veterans in the United States remain homeless, and another 92,000 rely on federal housing vouchers to survive.

In a controversial move, however, President Trump ordered the government to begin phasing out the Housing First model this July.

The administration argued that the program discourages veterans from pursuing self-sufficiency.

Experts, on the other hand, say Housing First had successfully restored a sense of stability and dignity to the lives of many retired soldiers — helping them reconnect with their communities after years of struggle.