Veterans

The Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently released a supplemental report to the 2010 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress on veterans. The supplement estimated that 76,000 veterans experience homelessness on any given night.

This population is composed of veterans of different conflicts, ranging from World War II to the current conflicts. Though research indicates that those serving in the late Vietnam and post-Vietnam era are at greatest risk of homelessness, veterans returning from the current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq often have severe disabilities that are known to be correlated with homelessness. And still new challenges present themselves as times change: for instance, homeless women veterans are more common than in the past.

In 2010, Eric Shinseki, VA Secretary, set bold goals for his department in addressing homelessness among veterans, pledging to reduce the number of homeless veterans from 131,000 in 2008 to 59,000 in 2012. The Administration’s proposed budget, released in February 2010, seemed to support the Secretary’s goal by dramatically increasing VA’s budget for homeless assistance programs for veterans.

Much like for the general homeless population, rapid re-housing and homelessness prevention strategies are critical for many veterans experiencing homelessness. However, those veterans with the most severe physical and mental health disabilities – often caused by their military service – require permanent housing with supportive services.