FAQs
Get answers to frequently asked questions about Veterans Community Project, Veteran homelessness, tiny homes, program eligibility, and how you can help.
I’m a Veteran looking for assistance
I’m a Veteran
About VCP
What is Veterans Community Project?
Veterans Community Project is national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization on a mission to fix Veteran homelessness.
Are you a nonprofit organization?
Yes, we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with top ratings on Candid and Charity Navigator.
Who is your CEO?
Bryan Meyer, a combat Veteran of the United States Marine Corps, is one of our co-founders and currently serves as our chief executive officer.
Is Jason Kander involved with VCP?
Yes, Jason serves as an Executive Advisor on our Leadership Team and was previously President of National Expansion leading our growth across the United States. But before joining VCP, he was helped by our program, an experience he wrote about in New York Times bestseller: “Invisible Storm: A Soldier’s Memoir of Politics and PTSD.“
Where are you located?
We are headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, with tiny home Villages in: Glendale, Arizona; Kansas City, Missouri; Longmont, Colorado; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and St. Louis, Missouri.
Are you affiliated with the VA?
We are an independent nonprofit organization not affiliated with the VA. However, we do work closely with the VA and other government programs to connect Veterans with the resources they earned through military service and with programs that could help them gain sustainable permanent housing.
How are you funded?
To eliminate red tape for the Veterans we serve, VCP relies primarily on private funding from individuals, families, foundations, and corporations. By limiting federal funding—which accounted for less than 5% of our support last year—we maintain the flexibility to serve all Veterans in the ways they need, without restrictions on our programs or services.
How much funding goes to overhead costs?
$0.87 of every $1.00 donated to VCP goes directly toward Veteran services. This ratio is in line with nonprofit standards and recognized by third parties such as Candid and Charity Navigator.
Veteran homelessness
How many Veterans are homeless in the United States?
The VA and HUD estimate that there are 32,882 Veterans experiencing homelessness any given night in the United States. We know, however, that there are thousands more unaccounted for who are sleeping in their car, couch surfing, hiding in plain sight, or at risk of homelessness. But with your support, that does not have to be the case.
Why do so many Veterans become homeless?
From navigating broken systems, to battling service-related disabilities, to fitting into the civilian job market, the reasons vary for why thousands of Veterans will sleep on city streets tonight. The root causes are deeply personal, yet fundamentally systemic. And, more importantly, they are fixable. Our proven model provides Veterans with the safety, stability, and dignity of a home, paired with individualized wraparound services guided by our H.O.M.E.S. Index. By leveraging community support, we help Veterans address the root causes of homelessness and achieve permanent housing.
What is the Veteran suicide rate?
Recent data shows that 18 Veterans take their life by suicide each day in the United States. Furthermore, research shows that most of those Veterans are not connected to Veteran-specific resources.
Do you need help? The Veteran Crisis Line provides 24/7, confidential crisis support for Veterans and their loved ones. Dial 988 and then press 1.
What support is available through VCP for homeless Veterans?
When it comes to helping Veterans, we believe in collaboration, not competition. We work with a variety of community partners such as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and other community-based support organizations, to help connect Veterans with resources in areas including mental and physical health, housing assistance, career services, and much more. We make connections to additional resources that are available through state and local service offices, employment and training programs from the Department of Labor and VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment, as well as peer and family support services that offer counseling, crisis response, and community connections.
Tiny homes
Do tiny homes for Veterans work?
Yes, 240 square feet is what it takes to fix Veteran homelessness. In that space, a Veteran gains the dignity of a private home, the safety of a locking door, and the comfort of a full kitchen and bathroom. Each house is built with trauma-informed design to support those living with PTSD, offering calm, intentional spaces that promote healing. With a front door that locks so they can secure themselves, their belongings, and in some cases their pets, Veterans can finally breathe, rest, and begin rebuilding their lives with their case manager. Since welcoming our first residents in 2018, our model of transitional housing with individualized support has proven to work at a radically effective 85% success rate.
How big are the homes?
The majority of the tiny homes in our Villages are designed to house individuals and measure around 240 square feet. Each Village also has larger family units that measure around 320 square feet that can sleep up to 5 people and are ideally suited for Veterans rebuilding their lives with spouses or children. Whether it’s an individual or family unit, all homes feature a full kitchen with a microwave, range, and refrigerator, as well as a full bathroom.
Do residents own the homes?
No, residents do not own their tiny home. Our tiny homes are designed to be transitional housing, giving Veterans a safe, rent-free place to live while they work with our case management team toward their permanent housing goals.
How long can the Veterans stay?
The average stay for a Veteran is 335 days. Veterans from our program exit to permanent housing, either with a rental subsidy, or in market rate rentals (and some even buy their own homes).
What is the role of VCP case managers?
VCP case managers are here to walk alongside Veterans, offering support, guidance, and encouragement as you work toward your goals.
They’ll help you stay on track while making sure you have the tools and connections you need to succeed.
For your part, here’s what you can expect to do together with your case manager:
- Meet with your case manager at least once a week
- Set personal goals and check in on your progress
- Work toward securing and maintaining permanent housing
- Take steps to care for your health and wellness
- Build skills to manage your money and start saving
- Apply for and use benefits and community resources
- Strengthen your social network and community ties
- Stay engaged in your recovery journey
- Use tools and support for mental health and overall well-being
How many tiny homes are in a VCP Village?
Our tiny home Villages currently range from 25 to 50 homes. We’ve found this range to be the ‘magic number’—large enough to build a strong sense of community, yet small enough to be effectively managed and deeply personal. This size also allows us to maintain our low case manager–to–Veteran ratio of about 1:10, ensuring every resident receives consistent, individualized support. In our Villages, Veterans aren’t just a number in a crowd; they have regular access to their case manager and the resources they need to succeed.
Are pets allowed?
Absolutely. Welcoming pets was an intentional choice by our founders after seeing that many Veterans were turning down assistance because it meant giving up their animals. For many unhoused Veterans, a pet isn’t just a companion, they’re family. That bond runs so deep that they would rather remain homeless than be separated. By making our Villages pet-friendly, we remove that barrier and honor the relationships that matter most to them.
How much does it cost to build a tiny home?
Our tiny homes are sponsored by a generous community of individuals, families, foundations, and corporations. Contact us to learn more and to explore opportunities to sponsor a home or the ongoing support needed to help Veteran residents transform their lives.
Programs, services, & eligibility
What is a Veteran?
VCP believes that if you raised your right hand and took the oath to serve this country, you are a Veteran. We serve anyone who swore to defend our constitution, regardless of discharge status, type of service, or length of service.
Who is eligible for your services?
We serve anyone who took the oath to serve our country, regardless of discharge status, type of service, or length of service.
Is Veteran capitalized?
At VCP, we capitalize the word Veteran out of respect. It is our choice, and you may notice that it differs from the AP style followed by some other organizations and by press.
What is the process for moving in?
If you need housing assistance and are located near one of our Villages, contact us to get in touch with our case management team in your location.
Do you only serve combat Veterans?
No. We serve anyone who took the oath, regardless of discharge status, type of service, or length of service.
How do you choose who gets a home?
We work with Veterans to determine the most effective and efficient way to meet their housing needs, whether through our tiny home residential program or our outreach services programming focused on homeless prevention and housing navigation.
Do you have a waitlist?
We do not maintain a formal wait list. Instead, when we meet Veterans who come through our doors or during street or agency outreach, our team works hard to understand their needs and is focused on housing stability whether that means homelessness prevention, finding a permanent housing solution, or anything in between. We’ve chosen not to keep a wait list because we never want a Veteran experiencing homelessness to delay getting help while waiting for a spot in our Village. Our team tries to connect Veterans to immediate resources, shelters, or services so they can begin their path toward stability right away, rather than feeling stuck in line.
Do you provide substance use treatment?
We do not directly provide substance use treatment, but we do work with community partners to connect Veterans to resources so they can get the help that they need.
Do you partner with other organizations?
Yes. When it comes to helping Veterans, we believe in collaboration, not competition. We are grateful for the many community partners who share this mission to fix Veteran homelessness.
Do I have to be experiencing homelessness to get help?
No. If you need help, please contact us to discuss your situation.
Can you help me if I am not near a VCP location?
Our ability to assist Veterans located outside of the markets we currently serve is very limited. However, VCP is growing nationwide to expand access to our proven model to any Veteran in need.
Can I get help as a family member of a Veteran?
It takes a village to fix Veteran homelessness. If a Veteran family member is experiencing homelessness, at risk of it, or in need of help, please contact us.
How to get involved
How can I donate?
From making a one-time donation to joining our monthly giving community, there are many ways to support the mission to fix Veteran homelessness. You can give through your workplace, contribute via donor-advised funds, host a fundraiser, plan a legacy gift, or choose the giving option that’s right for you—every gift helps change the lives of Veterans.
Where can I volunteer?
Whether you’re near a VCP location or far away, we truly appreciate your willingness to share your time and talents to support this mission. There are many opportunities and ways to get involved—visit our Take Action page to learn more and find the right fit for you.
How can I bring Veterans Community Project to my city?
Veteran homelessness is a problem in every urban and rural community across the United States. And we know that with philanthropic support, property acquisition, and political will, VCP can expand our proven model nationwide to fix this problem. Visit our locations page to learn more about what it takes to bring VCP to your city.
How can I get in touch with you?
Visit our contact page to fill out our online form or view local and national contact information.