“The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced plans to give agency attorneys legal authority to initiate guardianship proceedings for veterans experiencing homelessness that could force them into mental health care.
There are nearly 33,000 veterans experiencing homelessness in the U.S., and nearly 14,000 of those live on the streets, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report…
The Trump administration has said in multiple press releases the new initiative will help veterans “avoid unwarranted continued hospitalization, protect their rights, and promote appropriate transitions of care from VA hospitalization to other forms of VA care or care in the community, if appropriate.”
But these guardianships can also force veterans experiencing homelessness into involuntary treatment for mental illness and drug addiction, The New York Times reported. “
VA announces forced guardianship plans for homeless veterans