Veterans & Homelessness

• Posted by Rev. Yoda . Aka.. JG February 23, 2013 - #  - 787 views

  Veterans Inc. is the largest provider of services to veterans and their families in New England. Since 1991, we have helped more than 50,000 veterans and their families. Operations are expanding further into New England and beyond in our goal of eradicating homelessness among veterans.

  Veterans & Homelessness

  • Number of veterans as of Sept. 2009:  approximately 23 million¹
  • Increasing numbers of returning military personnel:  according to the Mass. Dept. of Veterans’ Services, approximately 31,000 service members have returned to the Commonwealth since Sept. 11, 2001.
  • Between 529,000 and 840,000 veterans are homeless at some time during the year.²
  • On any given night, more than 300,000 veterans are living on the streets or in shelters in the U.S.
  • Approx. 33% of homeless males in the U.S. are veterans.²
  • Veterans are twice as likely as other Americans to become chronically homeless.²
  • Veterans represent 11% of the adult civilian population, but 26% of the homeless population, according to the Homeless Research Institute (2007).
  • Veterans are more at risk of becoming homeless than non-veterans
  • The number of homeless Vietnam-era veterans, male and female, is greater than the number of soldiers who died during the war.¹
  • Primary causes of homelessness among veterans are:

  1. Lack of income due to limited education and lack of transferable skills from military to civilian life (especially true of younger veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan)
  2. Combat-related physical health issues and disabilities
  3. Combat-related mental health issues and disabilities
  4. Substance abuse problems that interfere with job retention
  5. Weak social networks due to problems adjusting to civilian life
  6. Lack of services.³