Committee on Veterans (2026)

Part 7: Protection Against Veteran Exploitation: Access, Privacy, and Safeguarding Vulnerable Veterans

Key Findings

Veterans experiencing homelessness represent one of the most vulnerable populations served through federal, state, city, and nonprofit systems. Many veterans entering transitional housing face challenges involving PTSD, service-connected disabilities, financial instability, medical conditions, housing insecurity, and difficulty navigating complex benefit systems.

The Department of Veterans Affairs Grant and Per Diem (GPD) Program was created to provide a safe transitional environment where veterans can rebuild stability through housing support, healthcare access, benefits assistance, employment preparation, and community reintegration.

Concerns raised regarding the Borden Avenue Veterans' Residence focused on whether access policies equally protected veterans while ensuring they received available community support. Reports described situations where traditional veteran organizations, donors, advocates, and community groups experienced barriers accessing residents, while certain outside organizations reportedly obtained direct access to veterans for disability-related services, personal stories, filming, and public promotion.

The issue identified was not whether outside organizations should assist veterans. The issue was whether access rules were applied consistently and whether adequate safeguards existed to protect privacy, informed consent, and veteran dignity.

Outside Access Policies and Community Support

Community involvement is an important part of successful transitional housing. Strong veteran programs often depend on partnerships with veteran organizations, peer mentors, volunteers, employers, charities, faith communities, and former residents who help veterans reconnect outside of homelessness.

Concerns were raised that community engagement at Borden Avenue was limited, with reports that some donation events occurred outside the facility rather than through direct interaction with residents. Accounts described veterans organizations and community members facing restrictions when attempting to provide clothing, food, hygiene products, and other direct assistance.

These concerns created questions regarding whether access policies were being applied equally to all organizations seeking contact with residents.

A successful access policy should balance two responsibilities: protecting vulnerable veterans from exploitation while ensuring veterans are not isolated from legitimate community resources designed to help them transition successfully.

Veteran Privacy and Disability Services

Veterans transitioning from homelessness frequently require assistance obtaining disability benefits, healthcare, housing support, and financial stability. Access to these services can be life-changing, especially for veterans with service-connected disabilities.

Concerns were raised regarding outside organizations interacting with homeless veterans for disability-related services, collecting personal information, recording veterans, and sharing veteran stories publicly.

Veterans seeking disability assistance should have clear information regarding:

• Who is providing assistance
• Whether services involve fees
• Whether representatives are accredited
• How personal information will be used
• What free resources are available through VA-accredited organizations

The concern is not veterans receiving help. Veterans should have full access to benefits and assistance they earned through military service. The concern is ensuring that veterans experiencing homelessness are protected while receiving that assistance.

Filming, Personal Stories, and Informed Consent

Veterans experiencing homelessness may be approached to share their personal experiences through photographs, videos, interviews, or promotional materials.

While sharing stories can increase awareness, veterans in crisis may face circumstances that create an imbalance. A veteran waiting for housing, seeking financial stability, experiencing PTSD, or needing assistance may feel pressure to participate without fully considering the long-term impact of public exposure.

Protecting veterans requires more than obtaining permission. It requires ensuring that consent is fully informed and that veterans understand how their image, name, military history, medical circumstances, or personal struggles may be used in the future.

Privacy and dignity must remain central to any program serving vulnerable populations.

Equal Access and Accountability Standards

The GPD program is intended to connect veterans with resources, not create unnecessary barriers between veterans and the community.

Equal access standards should ensure that policies apply consistently to:

• Veteran organizations
• Donors
• Community groups
• Service providers
• Advocates
• Outside agencies

Veterans should have access to legitimate assistance while maintaining control over their personal information and privacy.

The purpose of oversight is ensuring that outside involvement serves the veteran's recovery, rather than allowing homelessness or hardship to become a fundraising, promotional, or marketing opportunity.

Conclusion

Veterans experiencing homelessness enter transitional housing during some of the most difficult periods of their lives. The responsibility of a VA Grant and Per Diem provider is not only to offer shelter, but to create an environment built on trust, privacy, dignity, and recovery.

The concerns raised regarding Borden Avenue highlight the importance of clear and consistent access policies. Veterans should not be separated from organizations and community members seeking to provide genuine support while also requiring protection from anyone who may use their circumstances for personal, financial, or promotional purposes.

Effective veteran programs must ensure that every partnership, service, donation, and outside interaction advances the same goal: helping veterans recover from homelessness and successfully transition back into the community.

The veteran must remain the purpose of the program — not the product of the program.