Through collaborative efforts between the local government, nonprofits and private citizens, Montgomery County has found housing for 58 homeless veterans functionally bringing the number of homeless vets in the county to zero.

This achievement puts the county in the company of other jurisdictions that have ended veteran homelessness such as Houston, Las Vegas and New Orleans.

As reported on The Huffington Post:

A January survey found 1,100 homeless people living in Montgomery County — a 23.5 percent increase from last year. The county, which has an overall population of more than 1 million, used that survey as a starting point and began aggressively identifying and reaching out to the veterans seeking assistance there.

Montgomery County’s effort was focused by deadlines set by multiple national challenges to end homelessness among veterans, including the Mayor’s Challenge To End Veteran Homelessness and Zero:2016, which aims to end veteran homelessness by 2016.

The county has reached the “functional zero” standard of homelessness set by Zero:2016, meaning the number of homeless veterans is less than or equal to the average number of veterans who are placed in housing each month.

“There really was a sense of urgency and political will,” said Susie Sinclair-Smith, the executive director of the Montgomery Coalition for the Homeless, which led the effort. “We housed a family in five days. That is unheard of.” By the time all the homeless veterans were placed in housing, she added, her organization knew each of their names.

For more information read the full article on The Huffington Post.