HEALTHCAREVA program
Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams (HPACT)
Walk-in clinics at VA medical centers, outpatient clinics, and Community Resource and Referral Centers where one team of medical staff, nurses, social workers, mental health and substance use counselors, and homeless program staff provides care, case management, and help toward permanent housing.
Available to veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness at the more than 60 VA sites with an HPACT
Step-by-step guide
What you get
Walk-in VA clinics where one team gives medical care, case management, mental health and substance use treatment, and help toward permanent housing, with no appointment needed.
Where to start: call or chat first
- Your situation, told to a counselorA counselor asks where you are staying now, whether you have a safe place tonight, whether you may lose your housing, and about urgent health or safety needs, then works out next steps with you.
- Homeless or unstably housedHPACT is designed to reach veterans living on the streets, or in cars, shelters, or other unstable situations. For homeless assistance, VA uses the McKinney-Vento Act definition, as amended by the HEARTH Act. It also counts staying in a hotel or motel set up as temporary housing, leaving an institution where you stayed for a short time, being about to lose your housing (including a place you share with others or a motel room), and fleeing violence or other danger where you live.
- A veteran, and the dischargeHPACT serves veterans. A dishonorable discharge can put a veteran outside VA homeless programs; local Continuum of Care partners must serve everyone experiencing homelessness, including those veterans. VA says a veteran with an other than honorable discharge may get some kinds of care without being enrolled in VA health care, so contact VA even if your discharge is not honorable.
Source: VA.gov: homeless help (opens in new tab); VA Homeless Programs: Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams (opens in new tab); VA Homeless Programs: frequently asked questions (opens in new tab)
How do you want to start?
- Call or chat first
If you are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, VA encourages you to contact the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. The call is free, confidential, and open 24/7, and trained staff connect you to your nearest VA.
Source: VA Homeless Programs: Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams (opens in new tab); VA.gov: National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (opens in new tab); VA.gov: homeless help (opens in new tab); VA Homeless Programs: frequently asked questions (opens in new tab)
- Walk in to an HPACT clinic
VA says there are 65 HPACT sites, on the campuses of some VA medical centers, community-based outpatient clinics, and Community Resource and Referral Centers. Where there is one, you can walk in without an appointment. One team of medical staff, social workers, mental health and substance use counselors, nurses, and homeless program staff gives individualized care, including services that lead to permanent housing.
- An HPACT clinic you can reachWalk-in care is at the 65 HPACT sites, where the team can look at your needs and build care around them.
Source: VA Homeless Programs: Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams (opens in new tab); VA Homeless Programs: HPACT fact sheet (opens in new tab)
What to gather, and what it shows VA
| Document | What it shows | How VA gets it | Have it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where you are staying now What you tell VA staff about where you are staying, whether you have a safe place tonight, and whether you may lose your housing. | Your housing situation now | You share it when you walk in, or when you call or chat with the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans. There is nothing to write down first. | |
| The HPACT team works out your needs The HPACT team looks at your health, housing, and other needs, and gives care and case management built around them. | Which care and housing help fit you | The HPACT team does this when you come in. VA keeps the records. | |
| DD214 or other discharge papers Your discharge document, which shows your service and character of discharge. | Your military service and discharge | If you do not have a copy, VA homeless program staff can help you get an ID or the documents you need. If you apply for VA benefits, VA requests your DD214 for you. You can also request records online, which needs a verified ID.me account, or by mail or fax on Standard Form 180 (SF180). | Yes |
| A photo ID or VA health ID card, if you have one A photo ID, or the Veteran Health Identification Card you get when enrolled in VA health care. | Who you are, and for a VA card, that you are a veteran | Bring it if you have it. If you do not have one, VA homeless program staff can help you get an ID, and VA.gov lists the kinds of Veteran ID cards and how to get each. |
You talk with the HPACT team directly, and VA keeps the records. BeneVets does not ask for copies of anything.
Steps, in order
- If you are in crisis
If you are having thoughts of suicide or emotional distress, call or text 988, then press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line. Call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
Source: VA.gov: National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (opens in new tab)
- Call or chat with VA's homeless line
Call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838, open 24/7, free and confidential, or start an online chat. Trained staff connect you to your nearest VA.
Source: VA Homeless Programs: Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams (opens in new tab); VA.gov: National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (opens in new tab)
- Walk in to an HPACT clinic
Where there is an HPACT clinic, you can walk in without an appointment. If you do not know where one is, the National Call Center can connect you to your nearest VA, or you can visit your local VA medical center and ask for a Homeless Coordinator.
Source: VA Homeless Programs: Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams (opens in new tab); VA.gov: National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (opens in new tab)
- Get help enrolling in VA care
VA homeless program staff can help you enroll in and use health, mental health, substance use, and employment support.
- Gather your ID and papers
Bring a photo ID and your DD214 or other discharge papers if you have them. If papers are lost, VA homeless program staff can help you get an ID or the documents you need.
Source: VA.gov: homeless help (opens in new tab); VA.gov: request your military service records (opens in new tab); VA.gov: types of Veteran ID cards (opens in new tab)
- Free help with a separate VA claim
HPACT care is not a VA claim, so there is nothing for a VSO to file for it. HPACT teams offer benefits counseling, and if you also file a VA claim, such as for disability compensation, a VSO can help with that claim. Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at Find an accredited VSO near you.
Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab); VA Homeless Programs: Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams (opens in new tab)
Good to know
Medical care, case management, housing placement support, substance use and mental health treatment, community referrals, triage, and benefits counseling. Most HPACTs also offer food and clothing help, hygiene items, showers, and laundry on site.
Source: VA Homeless Programs: Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams (opens in new tab); VA Homeless Programs: HPACT fact sheet (opens in new tab)
VA says there are 65 HPACT sites across the country, in every VA health care region, in cities and rural areas. VA sent 25 mobile medical units to HPACT sites in fiscal years 2023 and 2024 to bring care to veterans where they are.
Source: VA Homeless Programs: HPACT fact sheet (opens in new tab)
HPACT helps veterans find the housing of their choice, even if they use alcohol or drugs or have chronic health issues.
Source: VA Homeless Programs: Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams (opens in new tab)
The National Call Center for Homeless Veterans, 877-424-3838, is free and confidential, and you can also chat online. Family members, friends, and community providers helping a veteran can use the chat as well.
Source: VA.gov: National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (opens in new tab); VA Homeless Programs: Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams (opens in new tab)
A veteran outside VA homeless programs because of a discharge can start a discharge upgrade with VA's online tool, which asks a series of questions and gives step-by-step instructions.
Source: VA Homeless Programs: frequently asked questions (opens in new tab); VA.gov: how to apply for a discharge upgrade (opens in new tab)
BeneVets is informational and is not an accredited representative. Free help: an accredited VSO can work through VA benefits with you at no cost. Find an accredited VSO near you
Sources checked October 15, 2026: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab), VA Homeless Programs: Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams (opens in new tab), VA Homeless Programs: HPACT fact sheet (opens in new tab), VA Homeless Programs: frequently asked questions (opens in new tab), VA.gov: homeless help (opens in new tab), VA.gov: National Call Center for Homeless Veterans (opens in new tab), VA.gov: request your military service records (opens in new tab), Standard Form 180 (SF180) (opens in new tab), VA.gov: types of Veteran ID cards (opens in new tab), VA.gov: how to apply for a discharge upgrade (opens in new tab)