(The Center Square) – Wisconsin needs dozens of workers for its veterans homes, and no one is sure the state can find them.
A report from U.S. Veterans Affair inspector general’s office says veterans homes across the country are in desperate need of front line and medical staffers.
“VHA facilities reported a total of 4,434 severe occupational staffing shortages, a 50% increase from FY 2024,” the report states. “Ninety-four percent of facilities reported severe occupational staffing shortages for medical officer occupations, and 79% of facilities reported severe shortages for nurse occupations.”
The OIG report notes that the VA has been struggling to find and keep workers for years.
In Wisconsin the numbers are smaller, but the need is just as great.
Wisconsin’s three VA homes, the Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, the Tomah VA Medical Center in Monroe County, and the Zablocki Veterans’ Administration Medical Center in Milwaukee, are short a combined 51 doctors, nurses or other medical workers and 21 frontline staff positions.
“A combined 51 clinical positions and 21 nonclinical positions,” the report explained. “Of the top five most reported clinical severe occupational staffing shortages in FY 2025, all but nursing assistant have been reported by at least 20% of facilities since FY 2018.”
The report notes that VA police is the most understaffed non-medical job.
“Fifty eight percent of facilities (80 of 139) designated police as a severe occupational staffing shortage, making it the most frequently reported nonclinical shortage occupation and most frequently reported of all occupations.”
The report shows that the VA home in Tomah is the only one in Wisconsin that needs a police officer. Though each of Wisconsin’s three homes need medical officers, nurses and medical specialists.
