(TNND) — Veterans Affairs announced more than $818 million in grants to 235 organizations across the country to combat veteran homelessness.

The money will support housing and housing counseling, health care, financial planning services, childcare, legal assistance and transportation to help veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

“Supportive services like childcare, housing counseling and financial planning can be important catalysts for preventing or resolving homelessness,” VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a news release. “These grants will help bring crucial support to thousands of Veterans in need across the nation."

Jim Whaley, a 20-year Army veteran and the CEO of advocacy group Mission Roll Call, called veteran homelessness a serious problem.

The latest annual point-in-time count found that there are about 33,000 homeless veterans, including those who are sheltered and unsheltered.

Veterans make up 5% of all adults experiencing homelessness, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

But Whaley isn’t confident that the nation has a good grasp on the scope of the problem.

He said the point-in-time count misses a lot of homeless people, including the majority of homeless veterans living in rural areas.

“That's really the floor,” he said. “The ceiling of this number could be much higher.”

The nation has made progress against veteran homelessness.

The number of veterans experiencing homelessness has declined by 55% since 2009. At about the same time, the overall homeless population has increased by 20%.

But Whaley said we need to do more.

Mission Roll Call surveys, which reach millions of veterans, found that over 90% don’t think the country is doing enough for homeless veterans.

“Overwhelmingly, veterans are very concerned about this situation,” Whaley said.

He called the newly announced grant money “a wonderful positive step from the administration.”

And he said it’s the right call for VA to let these funds flow to local organizations.

“We think, and most veterans think, that teaming with those that are on the ground, that are in the communities, that know the scope of the problem in their area and have the infrastructure to tackle this, is the right way,” Whaley said. “We're going to learn from each other, and we're going to be able to get into those rural areas. A huge bureaucracy trying to tackle this problem has not worked.”

It's not just VA’s problem.

And collaboration is key to success, he said.

Whaley said awareness is crucial to reducing homelessness.

This is an issue he wants VA, communities and policymakers to keep on the front burner.

He’d like to see homeless counts more than once a year, and he’d like to see a national summit to tackle the issue.

“All of us should be embarrassed by the fact that we have these type of numbers for veterans, those that have served their country with pride and passion, and now they're homeless,” Whaley said. “None of us should be satisfied with any veteran being homeless. So, we do have a moral obligation. And we certainly have the ability to solve this problem, because when Americans bring their thoughts together and really look at the problem from an apolitical standpoint, we can solve this problem. And we should solve this problem. It's a blemish.”

Homelessness isn't just about not having a place to live, Whaley said.

“It's about a web of challenges that keep veterans from stability,” he said. “And it's affordable housing challenges. It's mental health challenges. It's sometimes substance abuse. But all of this connects.”

And Whaley said it’s important to remember that any number of factors can avalanche, resulting in a veteran experiencing homelessness.

“There but the grace of God go you,” he said.

If you are a veteran who is experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838). Visit the VA Homeless Programs website to learn about housing initiatives and other programs for veterans exiting homelessness.