The V.A. has announced a pilot program to pursue guardianship for certain vulnerable veterans who are unable to make their own health care decisions.

We support efforts to protect veterans who are truly at risk and lack family or legal support.

But if veterans are “stuck in institutions,” the root cause may be housing shortages, long waits for community placements, and gaps in mental health services — not simply a lack of guardianship.

Guardianship can provide structure and stability when carefully applied. However, it must never become a substitute for investing in permanent supportive housing, voluntary treatment options, and properly funded transition services.

We call on Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs to strengthen this pilot by:

• Pairing any guardianship action with guaranteed housing placement plans
• Ensuring independent legal counsel for every veteran
• Making guardianship time-limited and subject to automatic court review
• Prioritizing the least restrictive alternatives before long-term control.

Helping veterans in crisis is the right goal.

Let’s make sure the solution protects both their safety and their freedom.