“Veterans are near and dear to my heart. That’s what makes me so passionate about my work.”

Sherri Wott, a veteran programs processing clerk for the Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP) Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, is often the first person who veterans speak with when seeking housing support through GLCAP. 

With a husband who served in the U.S. Army in Iraq and with family members who are veterans, Wott feels a connection to GLCAP’s SSVF program, which helps homeless veterans and their families move from homelessness into stable housing. SSVF covers deposit, moving expenses and other housing costs for veterans in need of support. Additionally, SSVF can provide veterans with housing kits, food kits, beds, and other essentials to help them as they enter stable housing. SSVF serves a 10-county region that includes Erie, Hancock, Huron, Lorain, Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, Wood and Wyandot County.

Wott, who has worked in housing programs for more than seven years for GLCAP, fields roughly 55-70 calls each month specifically from veterans who are seeking housing support. 

“At the beginning of the conversation, you can hear the stress in their voice,” Wott said. “We go over their current situation and whether or not SSVF can assist, or if they need connected to other resources that can help.”

Usually, by the time she is done speaking with the veteran in crisis, the caller seems to be less stressed and more assured that help is available, even if Sherri must refer the caller to resources outside of GLCAP to assist or provide additional support. If the veteran is eligible for SSVF services, Wott will connect him or her to a GLCAP family advocate to provide continued one-on-one assistance.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates 32,495 veterans experienced homelessness in 2025, according to statistics from HUD’s most recent Point-in-Time Count that estimates the number of homeless individuals in the United States. This represents a decrease of 1.2% in veteran homelessness since 2024, and a decline of 56.1% in veteran homelessness since 2010.

This decline is largely in part to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) commitment to reduce veteran homelessness through housing support initiatives such as SSVF, which is funded through the VA. The VA reported having provided nearly 48,000 veterans with permanent housing assistance in 2024. In GLCAP’s SSVF service region, the program provided 171 veteran households with housing support in 2025. Sherri and her fellow veteran advocates at GLCAP were part of that support.

Every veteran who needs support is unique, Wott said.

“Every conversation is different. Every situation is different.”

She recalled one specific example in which a female veteran and her adult handicapped son were fleeing domestic violence. Wott was able to connect the veteran with her county’s veteran services office and a local ministry to assist with a hotel stay as the family sought to transition into more stable housing through SSVF.

“I always feel a big relief when someone is housed,” Wott said. “I feel happy. I hate seeing anyone homeless, especially veterans. They’ve served our country. They put their life on the line. They deserve housing.”

“I’m just glad that we have this program and the funding to help veterans,” she added. “I’m just thankful for it.”

More information on GLCAP’s SSVF program is available by calling 800-775-9767 or visiting www.glcap.org/veterans.