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Built for Zero [formerly Zero: 2016] is a rigorous national change effort designed to help a committed group of U.S. communities
end veteran and chronic homelessness. The initiative is the successor to the highly successful, nationally recognized 100,000 Homes Campaign, and it is led by the New York-based non-profit organization Community Solutions. Washtenaw County launched its participation in the Built for Zero initiative during its Point-In-Time Count of unsheltered and sheltered homeless individuals and families in January 2015. |
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Goal |
FUNCTIONAL ZERO
Where the number of veterans experiencing homelessness or persons experiencing chronic homelessness is equal or less than the community’s 6-month average housing placement rate for that group. In order for us to achieve our goal, we need to engage elected officials, housing resources, the behavioral health system, and other systems of care. And, we need to decrease barriers to integrate all people experiencing homelessness into our community. When we have accomplished this, homelessness will be rare, brief and non-recurring. We invite all Washtenaw County community members to join us in this effort! |
Strategy |
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Progress
Since joining Built for Zero, our homeless system of care has decreased Veteran homelessness by 59%
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Recent Timeline to End Veteran Homelessness
Veteran Homelessness in Washtenaw County
September 2024 through September 2025
September 2024 through September 2025
This chart shows four data sets. First, is a line graph showing the number of veterans on the Community Housing Prioritization (CHP) List, or By-Name List. Second, is a blue bar graph showing the inflow number of veterans entering the homeless system of care in the county each month. Third, is a red bar graph showing the number of veterans exiting to housing each month. Last, is a yellow bar graph showing the number of veterans who moved to inactive from the By-List.
Between late September 2024 through January 23, 2025, a cohort of Care (CoC) partners collaborated on a 100-Day Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness. The Challenge, part of our community's work with the Built For Zero movement, was designed to bring together community leaders, services providers, advocates, and other individuals to accelerate progress on achieving an end to Veteran homelessness.
By the end of the Challenge, 25 Veterans experiencing homelessness were permanently housed. And! The number of unhoused Veterans tracked on our system's By-Name-List stayed under 20 during each month of the Challenge, down from the monthly high of 25 in 2023.
In February 2025, a Community Debrief was held to provide a recap on the 100 days, highlight successes from the Challenge, as well as share next steps for keeping the momentum going in the work to end Veteran homelessness. Slides presented at the debrief can be viewed here.
In April 2025, our same cohort of partners finalized a new set of strategies to reach functional zero by December 2025.
Stay involved and join us in finally ending Veteran homelessness! Please share how you can commit to the work to end Veteran homelessness by submitting a brief contact form here.
By the end of the Challenge, 25 Veterans experiencing homelessness were permanently housed. And! The number of unhoused Veterans tracked on our system's By-Name-List stayed under 20 during each month of the Challenge, down from the monthly high of 25 in 2023.
In February 2025, a Community Debrief was held to provide a recap on the 100 days, highlight successes from the Challenge, as well as share next steps for keeping the momentum going in the work to end Veteran homelessness. Slides presented at the debrief can be viewed here.
In April 2025, our same cohort of partners finalized a new set of strategies to reach functional zero by December 2025.
Stay involved and join us in finally ending Veteran homelessness! Please share how you can commit to the work to end Veteran homelessness by submitting a brief contact form here.
Length of Time to Housing for Veteran in County
June 2024 through June 2025
June 2024 through June 2025
This line chart shows in blue the number of days on average it takes the homeless system of care to permanently house a veteran experiencing homelessness every month. In June 2024, the average was 124 days. In June 2025, it was down to 78 days.
Other Related News
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The 100-Day Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness in Washtenaw County
Washtenaw United interview with Washtenaw Housing Alliance talking about the community's challenge and its results. The challenge started in late September 2024 and ended on January 23, 2025. 2021 The Built For Zero Movement in Washtenaw County
a Washtenaw Housing Alliance blog post recapping BFZ in 2021 |
There's No Cure For Coronavirus. But Housing Is the Best Protection.
a Community Solutions article on BFZ communities' response to COVID and getting people to safety; published April 2020 2019 Bright Spot
a Community Solutions article highlighting Washtenaw County |
Research: Community Solutions, Urban Institute Partner To Understand Inflow Into Veteran Homelessness
a Community Solutions briefing on results from the Community Strategies to Understand and Reduce Veteran Inflow into Homelessness report (below); published November 2020
a Community Solutions briefing on results from the Community Strategies to Understand and Reduce Veteran Inflow into Homelessness report (below); published November 2020
Housing Access for Washtenaw County
(734) 961-1999
(734) 961-1999