From Insight to Impact: Advancing Solutions in Veterans Housing
Thursday, October 22, 2026 9:00 am - 5:00 pm EDT
Event Navigation
The National Housing Conference and The Home Depot Foundation will convene housing leaders, service providers, policymakers, funders, and veterans’ advocates for a national discussion on veteran housing and homelessness. At a time when the nation has made measurable progress in reducing veteran homelessness but continues to face persistent gaps in housing stability, this convening will bring together cross-sector stakeholders to examine the current state of veteran housing and identify pathways to ensure no veteran is left without a safe, stable place to call home.
Through data-driven insights, lived experiences, and interactive discussions, participants will explore current challenges, assess housing assistance systems, and identify practical solutions to advance housing stability for veterans. Attendees will leave with actionable insights, strengthened partnerships, and a clearer path forward to advance practical, sustainable solutions for veteran housing stability.
AGENDA
| 8:00 – 9:00 am | Continental Breakfast and Registration |
| 9:00 – 9:10 am | Welcome & Opening Remarks |
| 9:10 – 9:45 am | Plenary Session: State of Play This opening plenary will provide an overview of the current state of housing for veterans in the United States, including recent progress made and goals achieved, while establishing a baseline of what work is left to do. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the current veteran housing landscape, key trends shaping the field, and the critical challenges and opportunities that remain in the effort to end veteran homelessness. |
| 9:45 – 10:30 am | Plenary Session: Voices of Veterans This panel will feature the stories of veterans with lived experience, highlighting how housing and stability have impacted their lives and the experiences that have informed their perspective on solutions. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the human impact of housing instability and firsthand insights into the policies, services, and supports that veterans say are most critical to achieving long-term stability. |
| 10:30 am – 10:45 am |
Break |
| 10:45 am – 12:15 pm |
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Breakout #1 – What Works: Data-Driven Solutions from Leading Programs Participants will leave with replicable strategies, policy insights, and real-world examples that can help communities strengthen veteran housing programs and improve outcomes at the local level. Breakout #2 – Aging Veterans and the “Silver Tsunami” Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of the emerging needs of aging veterans and practical strategies for developing housing and service models that support long-term stability, health, and dignity. |
| 12:15 pm – 1:15 pm |
Lunch |
| 1:15 pm – 1:45 pm |
Plenary Session: Financing Innovation – New Approaches to Ending Veteran Homelessness As communities work to close remaining gaps in veteran housing stability, funders and program leaders are rethinking how resources are deployed to meet evolving needs. This panel will bring together leaders from philanthropy, finance, and service delivery to highlight innovative programs designed to prevent and end veteran homelessness. Panelists will share how and why they are investing in new models—whether through flexible funding, cross-sector partnerships, or creative program design—and what they are learning along the way. Grounded in real-world examples, this conversation will explore how funding strategies can better align with on-the-ground realities, expand impact, and support more responsive, sustainable solutions for veterans. Participants will leave with practical examples of innovative funding and program models, as well as ideas for building partnerships and strategies that can drive more effective and lasting housing solutions for veterans. |
| 1:45 pm – 2:00 pm |
Break |
| 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm |
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Breakout #1 – What Works: Data-Driven Solutions from Leading Programs Participants will leave with replicable strategies, policy insights, and real-world examples that can help communities strengthen veteran housing programs and improve outcomes at the local level. Breakout #2 – Aging Veterans and the “Silver Tsunami” Panelists will discuss models that integrate housing with Medicare and Medicaid-funded care, strategies to expand service-enriched housing, and approaches to meeting rising case management needs, with a focus on scalable solutions that ensure aging veterans can access stable, appropriate housing.Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of the emerging needs of aging veterans and practical strategies for developing housing and service models that support long-term stability, health, and dignity. |
| 3:30 pm – 3:45 pm |
Break |
| 3:45 pm – 4:45 pm |
Plenary Session: Case Study Audience Challenge Led by a local homelessness response organization, the audience will be challenged with a scenario to help a city tasked with ending veterans’ homelessness. The scenario will offer various stakeholders, options for next steps, and unexpected consequences to allow the audience to navigate a soup-to-nuts solution of actionable strategy to solve the problem. Next, the audience will consider another case study with a city that wants to prevent veterans’ homelessness. Participants will leave with hands-on experience navigating complex housing challenges and practical ideas for building coordinated, proactive strategies to both prevent and end veteran homelessness in their own communities. |
| 4:45 pm – 5:00 pm |
Wrap up and Closing Remarks |
| 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm |
Reception |