The US Department of Veterans Affairs is a federal organization with cabinet-level status. The DVA employs approximately 345,000 people across hundreds of facilities and is headed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The DVA offers benefits such as healthcare, education, and financial assistance to 21.8 million veterans and their families as of 2014.
The primary function of the US Department of Veterans Affairs is to provide benefits and support military veterans following their time in service. Although benefits have been provided to military veterans since the Revolutionary War, the VA administration was formally founded in 1930. The department now provides healthcare, insurance, education, financial assistance, and burial/memorial service to military veterans and their families.
The US Department of Veterans Affairs receives funding from the federal government. The proposed budget for Veterans Affairs was $132 billion in 2012. In 2014, the requested budget was $152.7 billion, including $66.5 billion in discretionary resources and $86.1 billion in mandatory funding.
Currently, the US Department of Veterans Affairs is engaged in the initiative to prevent and end homelessness among military veterans. The DVA works with the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and state governments on this initiative.