Veteran homelessness has been a problem in this country for decades. But how bad is the problem, and why are our veterans so susceptible to homelessness?
The answers, of course, are complex and vary based on the each individual. However, some common threads run through the problem of veteran homelessness and help tie the picture together.
In the United States, a little over 600,000 people go homeless every night. About 9%, or around 58,000 people, are veterans. Nearly all homeless veterans are male, and only approximately 3% are female. The majority of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam War, though the number of homeless from the Desert Storm-era conflicts is growing.
Among homeless veterans, researchers estimate that nearly 70% have issues with drugs or alcohol, and approximately 45% have problems with mental illness, such as lingering symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or schizophrenia. These conditions, combined with a lack of family or social support, mean that many of the veteran homeless will never get off the streets without help.
Many organizations around the country are seeking to provide that help. VA hospitals and other medical centers have outreach programs which try to put veterans into at least temporary housing. Private organizations like the National Alliance to End Homelessness also work to get homeless veterans re-housed as soon as possible. For veterans with severe mental and physical disabilities, however, often more long-term or permanent care is needed.
In 2009, the VA Secretary set a goal of ending veteran homelessness by the end of 2015. So far, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has estimated that the number of homeless veterans has declined by one-third since 2010.
Governors and mayors of large cities around the nation have pledged millions of dollars to this effort, and there is a growing hope that the VAs goal may soon be realized. Hopefully, with time and organized efforts, none of our veterans will spend another night on the streets.
