Any person who has actively served in the military, navy, or air force and been released from active duty for a cause other than dishonorable is referred to as a veteran. Veterans’ homelessness is a persistent problem that governments around the world have been working to address. Let us know ‘Homeless Veterans In The US’.
Homeless Veterans In The US
The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), established by the US, offers the following advantages to veterans.
- Vehicles and adaptive technology for veterans with disabilities
- Basic medical assistance
- Programs and services for caregivers
- Loan with a cash-out clause
- Clothing stipend
- therapeutic work compensation
- dental care
- home loans for veterans who are Native Americans
- Assistance with education, etc.
Before identifying someone as a veteran, the VA takes into account the following characteristics.
- How long did the person actively serve?
- The period of service
- Type of service
- Circumstance of discharge
Although the VA provides all these benefits, the number of veterans needing care far exceeds the capacity of the amenities available. Veteran homelessness is not only a problem in the US and it’s not only a problem of the 21st century. The number of homeless veterans in the United States has been steadily decreasing
- In 1934, the number of veterans living on the streets was approximately 250,000
- In 1987, they were as high as 300,000
- In 2009, they were about 150,000
- In 2012, the estimated total was about 63000
- In 2013, they were about 58000
- In 2014, the total number was 54000
- In 2015, a total of 47000 were counted
- In 2016, there were 39000 veterans
Causes of Homelessness among Veterans
- Substance abuse: People turn to alcohol and drugs as an escape from something. Veterans especially war veterans usually turn to substance abuse to escape from the things they have experienced. It is hard to keep a stable family or lead a stable life when you are heavily addicted to alcohol or drugs
- Physical Injury: Anyone who has been maimed or injured permanently will need a lot of care and attention. Veterans who have such injuries and have no one to care for them will have a hard time surviving and will most likely become homeless.
- Mental illness such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD): A study on the mental state of vets in 2012 revealed that a high percentage of homeless vets have various mental disorders with PTSD being the most common.
- Family breakdown: 1 in 5 veterans in the US live alone. Veterans also have low marriage rates and high divorce rates.
- Lack of Jobs: The lack of a stable family and a stable job leads to homelessness. A high number of vets have a hard time getting jobs due to one or a combination of the above factors.
Demographic of Homeless Veterans in the US
- Of the total homeless adult population in the US, 11% are veterans.
- 20% of the homeless males are veterans. This is to the myriad of mental, physical, and social issues faced by veterans after service
- With respect to the location, 68% of homeless veterans are in major cities because they have better chances of survival in those places while the remaining 32% reside in rural areas usually because they have some sort of support system available there.
- The fact that about 51% of homeless veterans in the US are afflicted with some sort of disability whether physical, mental, or social should come as no surprise due to the nature of their job
- Another interesting fact is that 50% of homeless veterans have a serious mental illness. This is often due to their experience during service which is made worse by the issues they face after service.
- 70% of veterans are battling a form of substance abuse. A lot of reasons could lead to addiction during active service. It then becomes hard to stop after service.
- 57% of homeless veterans are white males while 38% of homeless non-veterans are white males. This shows that a white male veteran is more likely to be homeless than a white male from any other profession.
- 50% of homeless veterans are 51 and above while 19% of homeless non-veterans are 51 and above. This disturbing fact shows that older veterans are more likely to be homeless than older non-veterans.
The VA offers benefits to all veterans under its care but certain types of veterans such as those who served on foreign soil or those that experienced any hostile forces in a defensive or attacking capacity are entitled to additional benefits. Some counties such as Las Vegas in Nevada, Norman in Oklahoma, Riverside in California, etc have all announced that they have no homeless veterans.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the minimum length of active service to be considered a Veteran?
Before September 8, 1980, there was no minimum number of years to be considered a Veteran but after September 8, the person must have served actively for a minimum of 24 months to be considered a veteran.
- What are the top states with the most number of homeless Veterans?
The states in the US that have the most number of homeless Veterans are California and Texas
