Homeless Veteran Facts
76Our Veterans
A Short Insight.
If you follow me you know that I have dedicated the majority of my hubs to the plight of the homeless. This hub will deal with a part of the homeless situation that is hard to comprehend. It's hard to comprehend any person in a country so rich and full of technology to be homeless, but this group of people the 'Veterans" is really unacceptable.
I hope this hub answers some of your questions and explains just how this could be.
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.
Doesn't The VA Take Care Of Veterans?
To a certain extent, VA specialized programs for the homeless veterans have served more than 92,000 veterans in 2009. That still leaves a number well over 100,000 veterans who must seek assistance from local government agencies and community service organizations.
As you know VA housing has been in the news recently for violations attributed to poor maintenance, and lack of money to support these fixes.
We have to remember that it's just not the veterans needing these community services but non-veterans and families too. With the economy the way it is, it has forced soup kitchens and shelters to there max.
What Services Do Veterans Need?
First and foremost the veteran needs safe and secure housing. They need to have nutritional meals, basic health care, substance abuse care and after care, mental health counseling. They also need job assessment, training and placement assistance. No more than you and I have or have access to.
The most important programs to focus on is helping the homeless veteran obtain and sustain employment.
What Works The Best?
The most effective programs seem to be the community based nonprofit programs. The "veterans helping veterans" groups.
Government money is important, but currently limited. And often times available services are at capacity. Therefore it is very important for community groups to reach out and help provide support, resources and opportunities most Americans take for granted: housing, employment and health care. We need these organizations and the public now more than ever to step up for our homeless veterans.
What Can You Do?
First determine the need in your community. Visit with homeless providers and contact your mayor's office for a list of providers.
Involve others. If you are not already part of an organization grab a few other friends who may be interested in getting involved with this issue.
Participate in local programs. More than likely there are several programs in your community, if not this may be a good time to bring people together around this need.
Make a donation. Please make a donation to your local homeless veteran provider. Either a money donation or a donation of your time.
Contact your elected officials. Discuss and find out what really is being done in your community for our homeless veterans.
Remember homelessness has no barriers, it doesn't care if you're white, black, male, female, adult, child, single, married, a veteran or non-veteran. It can and will take you in it's arms and hold you for all the wrong reasons. All they will need is a helping hand to get away. That helping hand could be you!
Some Of My Other Hubs You May Be Interested In.
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K, thank you as always for your well-written hubs on this topic. My father has PTSD after serving in Vietnam. Though he is not homeless, the way that veterans are "treated" (more aptly called "disposed") is a tragedy. There should be no homeless problem, but to have such a huge number of homeless veterans is a crime.
god bless you are so right vets become forgotten god speed thanks
@ Hmr, You are welcome, and thank you for the endorsement.
@ norah, thank you for your warm comment. I was in during Vietnam, and believe me no one should have to see what these guys have seen. Good luck to your father, and thanks for supporting the hub. K.
@ thevoice, thank you very much. K.
K Really great information here on how to help. I hope everyone here and on the net come across this hub!
This just boggles my mind. I live in NYC and after the Viet Nam conflict the streets were filled with homeless vets. And now decades later - it is still the same. Men around my age (60) were from that era and of course it is not better.
One friend still has PTSD. When he watched the planes hit the twin towers he suffered a severe relapse. He knew immediately we were under attack but no one believed him.
Thanks for offering solutions!
This is very true & very sad! We should take better care of our veterans! Great topic & hub!
An important and significant post!!
Ir's utterly appalling that veterans are mistreated, disrespected, neglected and left to 'sink or swim' after devoting themselves to the country's causes.
My Dad was in WWI, my brother, brother-in-law and beloved husband were in WWII. They are all deceased now But they and all veterans then were honored and assisted when they returned from service. How is it possible that it is no longer the case, I have to wonder?
Maybe the wars are not so popular. And we know things about them instantly by various media. So why wouldn't we at least realize that the brave men and women who serve in them are just as honorable, sacrificing and fully deserving as in any past wars since the Revolution? In fact some of my ancestors fought in that one, too!
No one dislikes the idea of war any more than I do. I would prefer there to be an end to all wars and hope that reasonable people reasoning together would work out differences. But till that day I give full honor and respect to those who willingly devote themselves to the battlefields when in progress. It's their contribution to ending the wars!
We should be ashamed to do less for them. And now that so many are physically and mentally suffering from doing their duty, we should spare nothing to help them restore semblances of dignity to their shattered lives as civilians.
Thank you for reminding us in this well-done article, K.
Reading this does make you feel sad, but people need to be made aware of the situation. I cannot say this never happens in the UK but a lot of ex-service men from past wars are helped here by the British Legion ( it is a charity/group and nothing to do with the foreign legion). Also the Salvation Army (they are a Christian group who run charitable causes) try to help the homeless.
Not sure how well our veterans are looked after by the military once they leave, not heard much about that. Well done for writing hubs on such important issues.
This is so sad. Our goverment can help rebuild third world countries but wont help the men and women who have helped to keep us free. What a sad statement.
it is shameful. the city I live in has a neighborhood of affordable homes which were built for veterans, although anyone can live there. I think it was built in the late 70's, early 80's. the veterans were offered special loans. now the neighborhood has many younger families moving in as many of the elders have died. it would be nice if more of these kinds of building projects were planned throughout the country.
once again, you have written an informative hub about this tragic situation.
Hi Ohma, thank you for your kind words I appreciate it. I hope everyone gets a chance to read this too...thanks K.
Hey Bk, thank you for stopping by. It is amazing how so many vets are on the streets even today. We are the same age so we both can relate to that era. PTSD is getting to be so common nowadays with veterans homeless or not...they really need the help they deserve. K.
@ Michael, how are you? Yes we all need to take care of the vets, thanks you for your support. K.
@ Carolina, thanks for the read and support. K.
@ Hi Nellie, what a great comment, thank you so much. And thanks to your Dad, your brother,brother-in-law and husband too. K.
Terrific and important hub. Thanks for the info.
@ 2uesday, hi nice to see you here. Thanks for your comment. I'm sure this is happening all over the world to our veterans, sad but true. K.
@ Sam, Hi and thank you for your comment as well. I totally agree, we need to start taking care of our own right NOW!. K.
@ Rebeka, appreciate you stopping by and supporting this topic, take care. K.
@ breakfast, always a pleasure to have you stop by. Thanks for your support too. K.
It would be nice to see some more of financially strong organizations able to acquire funds and distribute needed monies to services for our Veterans. Wonderful article. :)
Morning Dame, nice to see you. Thanks for the comment. Maybe with the elimination of NASA flights coming up we'll have some extra money...you think? K.
Great hub. I worked with homeless veterans for six years, so I'm familiar with much of what you wrote about in this hub. I managed the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Project in my state until the grant was taken away. I was also a member of the National Coaltion for Homeless Veterans. We met every year in Washington, DC. In 2006 our key-note speaker was Senator Barack Obama.
I had no idea 1/3 of the adult homeless are veterans--that's pretty disturbing. Of course it's terrible for anyone to be homeless. But it's especially sad to think that anyone willing to risk their life so that the rest of us can sleep safely in our houses would wind up spending their nights in the streets. Thanks for calling attention to it.
Hi getitrite, wow thanks for the comment. What a wonderful unselfish person you are. I should be writing a hub about you. Thanks you for your support and all you have done. K.
Hi a.l. thanks for stopping by. Yes the numbers are disturbing and getting worse everyday. Thanks for the support and I will continue to get the stories out there.
Wow this is shocking and very sad. One would think this should be unacceptable in a country that is so rich in blessings and material wealth. thanks for getting the word out, K Partin!
Hi Ann, yup pretty shocking is right. What a nation huh? Thanks K.
An important and informative hub with practical advice on how to make a difference. PTSD and substance abuse frequently cause relationships to fail which is often why many Veterans find themselves without the family and social support networks we all take for granted.
Hi Amber, good point. It's true they don't have the support systems we all have for some reason. Thanks for the comment K.
Terrific hub and so sad. it is hard to think of veterans that have given so much and then they become homeless. Is is a sad commentary on our country.
Hello Pam, thank you for stopping by as always. Yes this is a sad commentary we need to change. see you soon. K.
As a veteran myself this shames me. Why is this so? What can be done that isn't being done? I know something of the V.A. They have a set pattern of procedures they perform for each vet. Part of that pattern is eliminating veterans who "don't qualify" for care.
The V.A.s main thrust is healthcare, but I think it's limited to "provable" events. Cases that can be well documented and justified doled out to those who served during certain wars or for extended periods of time.
Thank you once again for bringing an important issue to light. So, so many service pesonel have been over looked, shunned, and displaced. It is a tragic disgrace to our collective conscience as a nation! Please keep up the good work with your important writting!
@ Liam, thank you for the comment. I'm a veteran too, and this is a situation that needs to be addressed and corrected. K.
@ Cathi, thanks Cathi for stopping by again, always look forward to your comments. I will do my best to keep this topic at the forefront. K.
~STANDING OVATION~Bravo!! I do follow your hubs and always agree with your point of view. I applaud your commitment to raising awareness and I am so proud to see our veterans getting some reckognition!!! The government doesn't want to acknowledge the problem, that would mean having to take responsibility, and the general public is unaware of what these men and women have been through. No person enters the military thinking they will leave with so much emotional strain or physical burden that living a functional life would be difficult at best. Civilians at large are grossly ignorant of what our service men and women go through and it is an understatement to call it a shame. Thank you, immensely, for writing what you do.
Informative and helpful hub, equipped with a great point of view! Thanks for sharing! =)
@ Chaotic, Thank you so much for the kind words and I really appreciate you following my hubs on this very important topic. And I agree with you too, the government doesn't want to take responsibility......K.
@ Dj, Thank you for stopping by and your comment. K.
K- Thank you for writing on an important issue. Most of my famiy are veterans coming from all branches. Some of my uncles are survivors of Vietnam and are still trying to get the medical care the need from injuries during combat. I will be sharing your articles with many so we can all do our part in making a difference. We are truly blessed to be living in America. Thank you for your Service...Angela
Hi Angela, thank you for the great comment and stopping by. I wish your family all the best on getting the treatment they need. No veteran should have to wait for any assistance. Thanks for sharing my articles, I appreciate it. K.
Thank you K, I have always wanted to write on this issue, but you laid it down much better than I could ever have done. Being a veteran myself, I know how military men and women often need help. As you pointed out, homelessness knows no race, gender, marital status, or mentality. Great hub, you are bringing to light issues we need to acknowledge and deal with.
Hi mquee, from one veteran to another, I thank you, for your comment, your service, and also acknowledging the problem. K.
K Partin, This is a very powerful hub, I had no idea as I'm sure many others don't. My Dad was in the Army, Sister in Army, Brother a Marine...WOW you think I would know. Thanks for spreading this message and raising awareness. I will think differently about this issue from here out. Peace :)
Hey katie, thanks for the comment and taking the time to stop by. You would be surprised how many don't realize the problem. And the numbers are getting worse every day. Sad. Thanks K.
beautiful and caring hub K,
Sad isnt it? the plight of veterans and many who are homeless should be alleviated to a level of decency, the veterans served the country robbing them of family time, strength of their youth and energy plus many of them suffered psychologically!
Thank you and take care, Maita
Thank you Maita, yes it''s a very sad situation. We need to make our veterans a priority in this country for sure. K.
Shocking and very sad. Our young men of past wars gave their all to their country, came back with social skill problems, needing medical treatments many of them, to end up in the street of America. A crying shame and the politicians who sent them there cast them aside like garbage to the streets. I gratitude goes out to people like you who are concerned and helping these men, homeless is a sad sad place to be in ones life. Thanks for the share, peace and God bless
saddler, how are you? Thanks for the comment. It's sad we seem to spend and send more money to Haiti and other countries instead of addressing the homeless and homeless veterans right here in our own country! What a shame is right! Thanks K.
My father was a disabled veteran of World War 2. He served as and infantry sergeant. He fought in the jungles. He came home from the war from shell shock. He has been dead a long time now, but as a family we took care of dad. He mind was troubled by the war. God Bless You for helping all the sweet souls that put their lives up for us, and came home troubled or ill, or very unhappy. I love them all. I love you for caring. I loved my father so much.
Stars, thank you for your kind words and comment, and thanks to your father for his service....I'm sure he loved you very much too. Take care. K.
My ex is in the air force. I may not like him, but I would never let him wind up hopeless on the streets. We really should do more for veterans and education in the US.
Hi spider, thanks for stopping by. You are right, a lot of these vets have family and they won't even lend a hand...pitiful! K.
This is an excellent article. You have chosen a serious topic and researched the statistics very well. Your tone is both serious and truly passionate about this, about these heroes. You are a genuine man of integrity and that is something old guys like me find a rare and prescious gem. Keep up the most excellent work. I am proud to have read your hub.
I am glad to see others, such as yourself, speaking up for our Veterans. Homelessness is a huge issue for our Vets and communities really need to step up and do everything they can. High Five on this hub !!! HOOAH !!!
Hi Glenn, thank you so much for the wonderful comment. Us old guy's need to stick together huh? I truly believe we need to start taking care of our own, these heroes need a voice and myself and others hopefully are providing that. Thanks K.
AIM, thank you again and thank you for what you do too. You're right, we all need to step up and address this issue and be a voice for these brave soles. Thanks K.
Another worthwhile and honest heartfelt hub. Great work, and worthy of the Hubs. Keep on Hubbing. Blake4d
Blake thank you again appreciated. K.
Being a former advocate for the rights of those that suffer within poverty; I can say your words expressed in this hub are right on target. I challange you to keep writing on matters as this one. Your heart of true concern was felt throughout your expressed words. Great Job!!
SM~
These people did so much for the US and they are homeless?.....See this just makes me so mad about how our world and the system is. That shouldn't even be...
As a veteran myself I appreciate this hub. We need more information out there to keep people informed of the plight of homeless veterans.
At first I found it hard to believe that a veteran would ever have trouble finding work but I'm finding first hand that being a veteran doesn't matter to most employers like it should. If you combine that with the fact that many veterans have been stationed overseas or in areas far away from home then it's easier to understand how they could lack a family support system in times of trouble.
Thanks again for writing this and I hope people take it to heart and do what they can to help.
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Hmrjmr1 Level 3 Commenter 2 years ago
K - Thank you for this service to my homeless Brothers and sisters in arms. To others reading this please find a way to help were you live, it will be appreciated. GBY