VHA Homeless Programs - Project CHALENG for Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched Project CHALENG (Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups) for Veterans in 1993 in response to Public Law 102-405, which required VA to make an assessment of the needs of homeless Veterans in coordination with other Federal departments, state and local government agencies, and nongovernmental agencies with experience working with homeless persons. Since 1993, VA has administered a needs assessment in accordance with guidance in Public Law 103-446 and Public Law 105-114. This collection of information is necessary to ensure that VA and community partners are developing services that are responsive to the needs of local homeless Veterans, in order to end homelessness and prevent new Veterans from experiencing homelessness. Over the years data from CHALENG has assisted VA in developing new services for Veterans such as the Homeless Veteran Dental Program (HVDP), the expansion of the Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program, the Veterans Justice Programs and Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF). In addition community organizations use CHALENG data in grant applications to support services for homeless Veterans; grant applications are for VA, other Federal, local government, and community foundation dollars, which maximizes community participation in serving homeless Veterans. This collection will be a renewal of the collection approved in 2021. No revisions have been made to the questions; however, revisions to the burden hours are based upon the number of respondents in the previous year. The collection consists of two survey forms: one for Veterans (VA Form 10-10161) and one for VA staff members, community homeless providers, and interested community members (VA Form 10-10162). The only difference between the two survey forms are the introductory demographic questions; otherwise the survey is the same for both groups. The CHALENG Survey for Veterans (VA Form 10-10161) has been updated pursuant to Executive Order 14168: Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government. There are no longer gender options, and the “Gender” field in Question 3 has been changed to “Sex” with only “Female or Male” as choices.

The latest form for VHA Homeless Programs - Project CHALENG for Veterans expires 2027-11-30 and can be found here.

Veteran Survey

Federal Enterprise Architecture: Community and Social Services - Social Services

Review document collections for all forms, instructions, and supporting documents - including paper/printable forms.