2025 ANNUAL REPORT
STATE OF THE VETERAN COMMUINTY
The California Association of Veteran Service Agencies (CAVSA) is proud to announce the release of its 2025 Annual Report, providing a comprehensive overview of the conditions facing California’s veterans and the policy decisions shaping their access to housing, behavioral health care, and supportive services.
Read the executive summary here.
The report examines persistent and interconnected challenges, including homelessness, food insecurity, suicide risk, substance use, and untreated trauma, particularly among an aging veteran population. While California has made progress in reducing veteran homelessness, the report finds that nearly 70% of homeless veterans remain unsheltered, underscoring the need for integrated housing and behavioral health solutions.
Key highlights from the report include:
- One in five California veterans experiences food insecurity, a condition strongly linked to increased suicide risk.
- 570 California veteran suicide deaths, with rates nearly three times higher than the civilian population.
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Significant statewide impact from CAVSA member agencies, including tens of millions of dollars leveraged for housing, behavioral health care, and employment services.
The report also evaluates California’s transition to the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), emphasizing the importance of meaningful veteran inclusion in county Integrated Plans and Proposition 1 implementation. Drawing on extensive veteran engagement and lived experience, CAVSA outlines policy recommendations to prevent veteran-designated resources from being underutilized or redirected.