Dec. 17, 2009

It is no secret that so many of the homeless in this country are veterans. And little shocks me these days. But I found myself surprised to learn the number of homeless female veterans to be on the rise.

According to a report by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, women are a growing segment of the veteran population. In addition, there is a higher proportion of female veterans with severe housing cost burden. Of the homeless population in the United States, one-fifth are veterans. A conservative count for 2008 found about 131,000 homeless veterans, about 10 percent of which are female. Both male and female veterans often face substance abuse and mental health problems.

“A growing body of research indicates that female veterans have a higher risk of homelessness than their male counterparts.” – Vital Mission: Ending Homelessness Among Veterans

The report suggests female veterans  are often at greater risk of homelessness as a result of higher incidence of sexual assault and victimization, which is linked to higher rates of PTSD. In addition female veterans have lower incomes and are more likely to have children.

And vets returning from Afghanistan and Iraq are not immune from the current economic state and high unemployment rates. The jobless rate for post-9/11 veterans is higher than the overall U.S. rate and has nearly doubled in the past year to 11.3 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. About 1.5 million veterans — 6.3 percent — had incomes below the federal poverty line, according to a 2005 congressional analysis of census figures.

Last month Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the department’s intention to end homelessness among Veterans within the next five years. The plan includes preventive measures like discharge planning for incarcerated Veterans re-entering society, supportive services for low-income Veterans and their families and a national referral center to link Veterans to local service providers.

“Our plan enlarges the scope of VA’s efforts to combat homelessness. In the past, VA focused largely on getting homeless veterans off the streets.  Our five-year plan aims also at preventing them from ever ending up homeless.” Shinseki said in a press release related to the VA’s homeless summit last month.

While much is being done to reduce homelessness among veterans, the U.S. military and the VA need to step up and take care of those who serve this nation. That so many in this country are homeless is bad enough. That veterans who put their lives in danger are homeless is beyond unacceptable.

– By Jennifer E. Cooper