Effects of Homelessness on Veterans
In general, to be without a home is a traumatic experience. Homelessness impacts one’s physical and mental health, employment, social support systems, and ability to be financially stable. Homeless veterans experience the same thing.
Traumatic experiences affect how and why veterans become homeless and their ability to exit homelessness. Veteran trauma may stem from combat, witnessing the death or injury of comrades, squalid living conditions, long periods away from loved ones, or assault. For example, homeless female veterans are more likely to have experienced multiple sexual assaults while in the military than housed female veterans. This highlights a connection between trauma and increased risk of homelessness for veterans.
For all too many veterans, returning from military service means coping with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Post-traumatic stress disorder, sometimes known as shell shock or combat stress, occurs after you experience severe trauma or a life-threatening event. It’s normal for your mind and body to be in shock after such an event, but this normal response becomes PTSD when your nervous system gets “stuck.”
Where Do Homeless Veterans Live?
The majority of homeless veterans live in the country’s urban centers (high population cities). In contrast, most veterans live in suburban or rural areas. This may be because cities have better access to services like shelters, health clinics, and soup kitchens. Access to resources is important for veterans experiencing homelessness.
Homeless veterans have significant physical and mental health needs impacting their ability to work and live healthy lives. According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, more than half of homeless veterans are considered disabled. Around 50 percent have a serious mental illness, and 70 percent have a substance use disorder.
For female veterans, caring for children can be a major barrier to stable housing. A study by the Government Accountability Office found that more than 60 percent of organizations that support veterans did not have sufficient resources to provide housing for the children of veterans. Organizations that did provide housing had major restrictions, including the number of children per veteran and age limit.
For many years, veterans faced a tough choice: choosing between VA benefits or housing support. Before November 2024, disability benefits disqualified some veterans from subsidized housing because benefits were thought of as income. While that policy has thankfully changed, we must do better for our veterans who are at greater risk of homelessness than other Americans.
People who are homeless face increased risk of food insecurity, unemployment, medical problems, mental and emotional stress, social support disruption, and becoming victims of violent and non-violent crime. Homeless veterans face all the same struggles, but enduring the stress of military service can exacerbate their suffering and trauma.
