Department of Homeless Services Raking in Millions, Delivering Little to Veterans
In New York City, a battle rages beneath the surface of public awareness. While millions of dollars flow into the city’s homeless services, many of the veterans struggling in the system are left in a perpetual state of limbo, lost in the bureaucratic maze and unfulfilled promises. For these veterans, the fight for stability and respect often seems more challenging than any military campaign they’ve faced.
Veterans Affairs (VA) and the New York City Department of Veterans Services (DVS) are supposed to be pillars of support for those who have served their country, yet many veterans find themselves abandoned in shelters that do little to help them recover or transition back to civilian life. The largest source of contention? The Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program, a federal initiative aimed at providing transitional housing and services for homeless veterans. In theory, this program should give veterans access to housing, mental health services, and a path toward self-sufficiency. In practice, it often does anything but.
Borden Avenue Veterans’ Residence
At the heart of the problem is the Borden Avenue Veterans’ Residence (BAVR), a facility in Long Island City meant to house veterans under the GPD program. While BAVR was designed to offer veterans a safe, drug-free environment with access to housing resources and community engagement, reports from those who have stayed there paint a starkly different picture. Instead of a welcoming, supportive environment, veterans describe BAVR as a violent, overcrowded shelter, with limited access to essential services. Complaints about inadequate food, insufficient security, and lack of staff support are rampant, yet the facility remains the primary point of access for many veterans in need of housing assistance in the city.
In August 2024, for example, it was reported that of the 224 individuals residing at BAVR, only 107 were enrolled in the GPD program, leaving many veterans at the mercy of an underfunded and overwhelmed system. With the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) under investigation for corruption, the GPD program’s funding is questioned. The situation is made worse by the fact that many veterans are either not receiving the services they’re entitled to, or they are being removed from the program entirely and sent to some of the worst shelters in the city.
Lack of Communication Amongst City Agencies
In the face of all this, veterans like Pena are turning to grassroots advocacy to try and make a difference. Through his writing and public speaking, he has pushed for better housing options, more comprehensive mental health services, and a renewed commitment from both the city and the federal government to meet the needs of homeless veterans. He’s also advocating for better oversight of BAVR and other facilities housing veterans, calling attention to the poor conditions and lack of accountability within the system.
One of the key issues, Pena points out, is the lack of coordination between the various agencies involved in veteran services. DVS, DHS, and the VA should be working together to streamline processes and provide veterans with the support they need, yet the departments often operate in silos, with little communication or cooperation. This lack of collaboration leads to confusion and frustration for veterans, who are often bounced between agencies without ever finding a resolution to their problems.
While there are some individuals within DVS and DHS who are genuinely trying to make a difference, it’s clear that the system as a whole is failing veterans. The city is spending millions of dollars on homeless services, yet the outcomes for veterans are consistently poor. Until the city and federal government take real, substantive action to reform the system, veterans will continue to fall through the cracks, left to fight an invisible war with no clear end in sight.
The situation at BAVR and other shelters should be a wake-up call to the city’s leadership. Homeless veterans in New York City deserve more than just a bed to sleep in—they deserve the support, resources, and respect they earned through their service. It’s time for the city to stop treating veterans as second-class citizens and start providing the comprehensive care and services they need to rebuild their lives. Until that happens, the stories of veterans like Timothy Pena will continue to be the story of New York City’s shameful neglect of those who served our country.
In the meantime, advocates like Pena will keep fighting for change. The battle may be long, but for veterans in New York City, the fight for dignity and stability is one worth fighting every day.
20250128_gpd (Printable pdf)
