Why it matters: With rising costs of housing, food, and healthcare, older veterans are facing increasing challenges accessing critical services. VA Salt Lake City Health Care System’s mobile medical unit (MMU) meets veterans where they are, providing essential care and support.
By the numbers, according to Social Worker, Dani Masi:
- Homelessness among veterans continues to be a significant concern nationally
- The VA’s national program aims to house 84,000 veterans in the next year
- Salt Lake City’s VA has already achieved 86% of their local housing target
The big picture: VA Salt Lake City’s Homeless Outreach Team, including social workers like Dani Masi, connects veterans with housing and medical services through multiple touchpoints:
- Drop-in centers like the weekend center
- Street outreach initiatives
- Weekly triage hours (Wednesdays from 1-3 PM)
- Mobile Medical Unit visits
On the ground: “Our elder veterans are definitely a big source of concern for us,” says Dani Masi, Social Worker with the VA’s Homeless Outreach Team. “Because of the rising cost of home health care, hospice care, and just medical care in general, the rising costs of housing, the rising cost of food, it’s so much more difficult for them to connect with these important services.”
Behind the scenes: VA Salt Lake City’s Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams (H-PACTs) bring together medical staff, social workers, mental health and substance use counselors, nurses, and homeless program staff to provide comprehensive care that addresses both health needs and housing insecurity.
The bottom line: “The mobile medical unit, which is able to go and meet them where they’re at, has been such a gift and such a blessing,” says Masi. “I’m just proud of this team and the work that they’re doing and proud of our veterans.”