Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners at its Feb. 8 meeting accepted a challenge to end veteran homelessness by acknowledging the work of Lehigh Valley Homeless Veterans Task Force in support of a housing approach, which would help veterans obtain permanent housing as quickly as possible.

Thomas Applebach, Lehigh County director of veterans affairs, had spoken with the board of commissioners at its Feb. 1 workshop meeting and had asked commissioners to adopt the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness when it met again the following week.

President Barack Obama in 2010 made the elimination of veteran homelessness a national priority in cooperation with federal and local partners by setting an ambitious goal to end such a plight.

Then on June 4, 2014, First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden launched the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness.

The challenge now includes more than 850 mayors, including Whitehall Township Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr., and state governors and county officials across the United States have made the commitment to end veteran homelessness in their communities.

Commissioner Philip Ginder asked how many veterans may be homeless in the township. Applebach said there might be two, noting veterans gravitate to the cities where there are services readily available to them. He said the issue is across municipal boundaries throughout the Lehigh Valley, and figures fluctuate.

In March 2015, the Lehigh Valley Veterans Task Force was formed, bringing together partners throughout the region to focus on efforts to end veteran homelessness. These partners provide a comprehensive range of resources and supportive services - including outreach, case management, temporary financial assistance, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing and job training - to rehouse veterans and their families.

The township was not asked for any funding but rather to acknowledge that a community-wide collaborative approach is essential in eradicating veteran homelessness.