Fedcap Veterans Joins National Conversation on Ending Veteran Homelessness

Fedcap Veterans Attends 2025 National Coalition for Homeless Veterans Annual Conference

Washington, D.C. | May 27–30, 2025

Several members of the Fedcap Veterans team recently attended the 2025 National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. This year’s event marked 35 years of national progress in the effort to end veteran homelessness. The theme, “Honoring the Past, Building the Future,” brought together hundreds of veteran service providers, federal and local leaders, and housing advocates from across the country.

Over three days, our team engaged in targeted sessions, peer discussions, and strategy workshops that offered timely insights and ideas we can bring back to our work in Maine.

Key Insights from the Conference

• The Housing First model continues to serve as the foundation of effective veteran homelessness programs. We also saw a growing emphasis on prevention—interventions that address housing instability early, including legal assistance, landlord mediation, and rental arrears support. These are tools we are considering in our efforts to keep veterans stably housed.
• Aging veterans are facing unique challenges. The sessions made clear that many communities are working to adapt services to meet those needs, including accessible housing, coordinated medical care, and social connection. These lessons are directly applicable to several of the regions we serve.
• Veterans who shared their personal stories offered important reminders about the human side of this work. Their voices highlighted the importance of designing services that are person-centered, trauma-informed, and flexible to individual needs.
• We were encouraged to see that the most successful efforts across the country are being built through collaboration. Whether it’s housing authorities, workforce boards, or healthcare providers, integrated efforts are producing the strongest results.
• There has been national progress in reducing veteran homelessness, but the urgency remains. The conference made clear that staying focused on measurable outcomes, removing barriers, and improving service coordination will continue to be essential.

Strategies for Talent, Funding, and Impact

Several members of our team also attended Advancing Veterans Nonprofits: Leadership Strategies for Talent, Funding, and Impact, a session led by James Seymour, Executive Director at Cape & Islands Veterans Outreach Center. This session was designed for executive leaders of veteran-focused organizations and covered core challenges like staff retention, funding uncertainty, mission focus, and impact measurement. It was expertly presented and highly engaging. Near the end of the session, there was strong interest from attendees in continuing the dialogue, with the suggestion of launching a quarterly virtual meeting to keep the conversation going and build a peer learning network.

Looking Ahead

The NCHV Annual Conference left us energized, informed, and more connected than ever. We return to Maine with practical strategies, new relationships, and a renewed commitment to our mission. Fedcap Veterans remains focused on ensuring every veteran we serve has access to stable housing, meaningful employment, and long-term success.