Minnesota's major progress in ending veteran homelessness
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Homelessness among Minnesota veterans has declined by close to 50% over the last 15 years.
By the numbers: Roughly 220 former service members lacked housing in January 2025, per federal estimates. That's a rate of 4 per 10,000 veterans.
- In 2011, the tally was nearly 450.
Between the lines: State officials say even more progress has been made in the last year.
- Gov. Tim Walz recently announced an "effective end" to veteran homelessness statewide, meaning those in need of help can be quickly identified and offered permanent housing or other social services.
What they're saying: "It's not something you just say, 'Oh, we fixed it. Veterans' homelessness is over,'" Walz said at an October news conference
- "But the state of Minnesota has made sure there's a net underneath that, that there is a safety net to make sure that [any period of homelessness] is brief."
Zoom out: Veteran homelessness declined in 43 states and Washington, D.C., between 2011 and 2025, according to an Axios analysis of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) data.
- New York (-78%), North Dakota (-77%), Louisiana (-75%) and Georgia (-72%) saw the sharpest declines.
What we're watching: Whether new VA programs help house more veterans.