PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — A major accomplishment for Bay Pines Veterans Hospital, according to the Veterans Health Administration National Programs Office, as it ranks seventh in the country in the number of homeless veterans it helped find a place to live. 

What You Need To Know

  •  Bay Pines Veterans Hospital ranks seventh in the nation with helping homeless veterans find housing 

  • Officials with the hospital said it housed nearly 900 veterans in 2023

  • Nationwide, more than 46,000 homeless veterans were placed in permanent housing according to the VA Under Secretary of Health

One of those people Bay Pines helped is Air Force veteran Stephanie Hall, who said she struggled with addiction and PTSD for years. 

“Got to the point where I didn’t care about me or my life,” Hall said. 

Her struggles led to her living on the street, homeless. She credits Bay Pines Veterans Hospital in helping her move into a Pinellas County apartment.

Officials with the hospital said they housed nearly 900 veterans in 2023, smashing their goal of just over 600. 

Hall said their care and programs helped her get her life back on track and reconnect with her family.  

“They give me a lot of strength and on the days when I’m feeling down I just reach out and they lift me back up,” she said. 

Hall said there’s still a lot to take care of from figuring out her finances to her ultimate goal of getting a car, but with all the support, she’s confident she’ll get where she wants. 

Bay Pines Veterans Hospital said it’s always looking for more landlords to help house these veterans. 

If interested, you can email them at vhabayhud-vashlandlords@va.gov.