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Built for Zero 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 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 |
GOING BEYOND FUNCTIONAL ZEROFunctional zero meant that the number of Veterans or persons experiencing chronic homelessness is equal or less than the community’s 6-month average housing placement rate for that group.
Beginning in late 2025, Community Solutions’ goal evolved beyond achieving and sustaining Functional Zero to ensuring that homelessness is becoming rare, brief, nonrecurring, safe, and that reductions to homelessness are believable by the community. This includes a focus on reducing unsheltered homelessness in all communities. As a group of Veteran providers, we wanted to also align our improvement efforts with the VA One Team Approach. This approach outlines for local VA’s the best practices for working with all community partners to end homelessness. This approach includes four Standards that must be met in order to consider Veteran homelessness ended in a specific community. We found that the VA One Team Approach Standards align well with the new framework shared by Community Solutions. These four standards are:
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! Please share how you can commit to the work to end Veteran homelessness by submitting a brief contact form here. |
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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PROGRESS TOWARDS VA ONE TEAM STANDARDS
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Standard A: The number of Veterans experiencing homelessness has declined and there is an extremely low number of unsheltered Veterans.
The chart below shows the percentage of sheltered and unsheltered Veterans in Washtenaw County. 
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Standard B: Veterans have quick access to permanent housing (average of 120 days or less from identification to move-in). experiencing homelessness has declined and there is an extremely low number of unsheltered Veterans.
The chart below shows the average length of time for Veterans who are currently experiencing homelessness in Washtenaw County. The blue bars represent Veterans who have been waiting less then 120 days. The red bars represent Veterans waiting 120 days or longer. 
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Standard C: The community has sufficient permanent housing placement capacity. This means the number of Veterans exiting to permanent housing is greater than or equal to the number entering the homeless system.
The chart below shows the Inflow and Outflow of Veterans. The top bars above zero (red) show numbers of clients entering homelessness in Washtenaw County each month, and the bars below zero show two different types of exits: clients permanently housed (dark blue) and clients who left the area or lost contact with the system (light blue). 
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Standard D: Returns to homelessness are minimal with the number of Veterans returning to homelessness within 12 months below 10%.
The chart below shows the Washtenaw County's Continuum of Care (CoC) status of Veterans identified as homeless in Washtenaw County. Clients are either "New to the CoC" (navy), "Returned from Inactive" (blue), or "Returned from Housed" (gray). 
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Additional Veterans Data
These charts are updated monthly by the Veteran System Improvement Coordinator. Check back to stay up-to-date on the latest with Veterans in Washtenaw County.
The graph to the left shows the age ranges of Veterans currently experiencing homelessness in Washtenaw County. |
Twenty-one (21) is the current number of Veterans experiencing homelessness in Washtenaw County. |
The pie chart to the left shows the Race Distribution of Veterans currently experiencing homelessness in Washtenaw County. |
Six (6) is the number of Veterans housed in April 2026. |
last updated 8/19/2026
Other Related News
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Proof Point: Our Community’s Commitment to End Veteran Homelessness
a Washtenaw Housing Alliance blog post recapping our community's commitment in 2026 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