In 2009, President Barack Obama and The Department of Veterans Affairs decided to attempt to end homelessness for Veterans by the year 2015. While Veteran homelessness has been on the decline since 2010, reaching nearly 11% between 2020 and 2022, many still face challenges finding affordable and stable housing.
A variety of programs are available, offered by the VA, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and other organizations. However, there is a constant strain on these agencies to provide a substantial enough variety of services for veterans, and most need additional resources to be able to help.
Understanding the veteran population is one part of the solution to helping the homelessness crisis amongst veterans. It will allow policymakers and organizations to adjust their programs to meet veterans’ housing and service needs.
The largest cohort of the US veteran population is those who are over the age of 55. These individuals show an increased need for housing and support that can enable them to be cared for as they age, whether in their homes or within the community.
Another growing share of the veteran population are female veterans with children. However, many veteran programs and services do not currently target single-parent families or other portions of the population. Therefore their benefits may be limited.
Addressing Homelessness with an Aging Population
In 2013, over 14 million veterans in the United States were over the age of 55. They accounted for over two-thirds of the entire veteran population. Based on this fact alone, they are a very important factor in understanding the population’s homelessness crisis and providing long-term solutions.
Older veterans may require special housing considerations or access to services within their community to help them as they age and their mobility becomes more compromised. Homeless or near-homeless veterans that are older frequently require a significant amount of resources and outreach to ensure that they can be self-sufficient and have a source of stable housing. The older they become, the more likely their needs will change, and many will require constantly adjusting housing options to accommodate them in aging comfortably.
Another staggering statistic is that nearly 2.5 million households headed by veterans over the age of 55, or roughly 25 percent, are what is known as ‘housing cost burdened.’ This information means they spend over 30% of their income on housing.
Older veterans are also far more likely to have a disability, often related to military service. They also are more likely to need services to help maintain their health and well-being. Lower-income older veterans have the greatest need for support and services, and nearly half of the 850,000 older veterans below the poverty line have a disability. These populations have a significantly harder time finding housing available that they can afford, which allows them the ability to be able to deal with physical, psychological, and economic issues that put them at risk of homelessness.
The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimated that a decade ago, over 140,000 homeless veterans were living in shelters or on the streets. Over 11% of these individuals, or close to 15,000, were older veterans. Even though the homelessness crisis has greatly improved, the older population is still a concern. Those individuals have unstable economic conditions, alcohol or drug dependencies, and non-existent or difficult-to-manage social circles.
Understanding the needs of the older population, who comprise a substantial portion of the veteran population, will be extremely beneficial in combating the remainder of the veteran homelessness crisis. Becoming aware of the reasons for the lack of services for this population will help them, and other veterans live healthier and more independent lives.
Meeting the Needs of Women Veterans and Their Children
Presently, over 2.3 million female veterans are residing in the United States. This number has grown substantially over the last few decades, making women the fastest-growing population of veterans. By 2040, it is estimated that the number of female veterans will rise to over 18 percent.
Not unlike the aging population of veterans, women veterans, too, have their fair share of housing challenges after they leave service. Compared to male veterans, female veterans are more likely to live in poverty and be at a greater risk of homelessness.
While there are many reasons for an increased risk of homelessness amongst women veterans, some of the biggest issues include pre-existing economic or social disadvantages, service-related disabilities like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), or sexual harassment or assault during their tour of duty. Physical and mental health issues and trauma exposure are also all huge concerns with the veteran female population. For example, more than 20 percent of women Iraq and Afghanistan veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD, which can cause many risks and strains on family and personal relationships, putting them at a greater risk for homelessness.
Many women in the military are more reluctant to seek assistance through programs meant to help veterans. They often require an entirely different housing approach compared to their male counterparts. Because of this, they may also have more limited access to housing and related services. And because the vast majority of veterans are men, many homeless services and providers tend to target single adult men. Options for women, and even more so, women with children, are sometimes extremely limited or non-existent.
Use These Large Veteran Populations as a Voice for All
As you can see, understanding the more influential groups of the veteran population provides insight into how to address the problem as a whole. There is still a concern for homeless veterans in the United States. Understanding how the veteran population changes and will change in the future is critical to helping develop policies and programs to meet their ever-diversifying needs.
written by: Aleksandra Pajic