U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, MD, said his agency won't shift homeless program money to VA hospitals.
"There will be absolutely no change in the funding to support our homeless programs. We will not be shifting any homeless program money to the Choice program," which pays for veterans to see private healthcare providers not associated with the VA, Dr. Shulkin said in a statement, adding that President Donald Trump upped VA homeless program funding by $66 million for fiscal year 2018.
"Over the next six months, I will solicit input from our local VA leaders and external stakeholders on how best to target our funding to the geographical areas that need it most.
Based on that input we will come forward with proposals for fiscal year 2019 on how to improve the targeting of our homeless program funding."
Dr. Shulkin's announcement came after pushback from veterans' advocates, state officials and officials from homeless program co-sponsor, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to a Politico report.
The VA previously indicated plans to end the homeless program and instead give the funds to VA hospitals to use at their discretion, the report states.
Read the full Politico report here.