Who Are These Homeless Veterans?
According to the (VA) Veterans Affairs, the nation's homeless veterans are predominantly male, with about 5% being female. The majority of them are single; they come from urban areas; and suffer from mental illness, alcohol and/or substance abuse, or multiple disorders. About one-third of the adult homeless are veterans.
America's homeless veterans have served in WWll, the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Also with anti-drug efforts in South America. Nearly half of all homeless veterans served during the Vietnam era. Two-thirds for at least three years and one-third served in a war zone.
Approximately 56% of homeless veterans are African American or Hispanic.
About 1.5 million other veterans are at risk of homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks, and terrible living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing.
How Many Homeless Veterans Are There?
Although the counts are near impossible to come by, the VA estimates that 107,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. Over the course of a year, about twice that many can experience homelessness. Only eight-percent of the general population can claim veteran status, but nearly one-fifth of the homeless population are veterans.
Reasons Why Veterans Are Homeless.
In addition to the usual factors of homelessness - lack of affordable housing, a livable income and access to health care - a large amount of displaced and at risk veterans live with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse, which is compounded by a lack of family and social support networks.
A major priority for homeless veterans is to have secure, safe, clean housing that will offer a supportive environment free of drugs and alcohol.
So although most homeless people are single, the majority of housing money in existing federal programs, is geared to helping homeless families or homeless women with children.
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