Stand Down's Information Page about Homeless Veterans
"There should be no man left behind.
There will be no man left behind as long as we are this Nation"
Roy Foster, Executive Director & Founder FHLC, Inc.

The information on this page has been compiled from various sources. Credit is
given when possible and links to the sites of origin have been provided below.

For many reasons it is difficult to fully account for the actual number of homeless
(including veterans) in the US. Many sleep in their cars, in the woods, or other
hard to locate areas, and many veterans do not use VA / VA affiliated services.
The difficulty in accurately counting the homeless is compounded by the fact
that the numbers do not include those who are living with others due to economic
need or in motels due to lack of adequate housing. Furthermore, the definition of
homeless used often excludes many, including those who are in prison or jail and
those residing in permanent housing for the homeless. There is not a national
database to help track our homeless veterans. Most available statistics don't
include the many vets that are at risk of becoming homeless.

Approximately 1/3 of homeless adults (one out of every three) in this country
are veterans, yet veterans represent only 11% of the civilian population. On
any given night 154,000 - 300,000 veterans are homeless. Based on various
estimates, 500,000 - 840,000 veterans are homeless at some time during the
year. It has been estimated that Iraq & Afghanistan veterans represent 1.8%
of the homeless veteran population. In 2008, 44% of those surveyed reported
being homeless for the first time. This number was 37% in 2007. According
to the Department of Veterans Affairs the number of homeless Vietnam era
veterans exceeds the number of fatalities that occurred during the war.

According to recent studies, Florida ranks third in the nation in the number of
homeless people, yet has one of the highest numbers of homeless veterans.
The Florida Department of Children & Families determined that 17.3-18.4%
of Florida's homeless are veterans & the National Coalition for Homeless
Veterans (NCHV) reported the number to be 19,394. In 2005, roughly 3,000
new homeless vets were enrolled into Florida DVA homeless programs.
In 2008, the number of homeless vets in Florida on any given night was
19,000 according to local homeless coalitions.

Homeless Veterans

  • Males account for 97-98% of the homeless veteran population
  • 56% are African American or Hispanic
  • 76% experience alcohol, drug, or mental health problems (inc PTSD)
  • 45% suffer from mental illness
  • 50% have substance abuse problems
  • More than 67% served our country for at least three years
  • 33% were stationed in a war zone
  • 47% of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam Era
  • 17% served after the Vietnam era
  • 15% served before Vietnam
    • These numbers may not accurately reflect the impact of OIF & OEF.     Many of our homeless veterans served in WW II, Korean War, Cold War,
    Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Operation Iraqi Freedom,
    Operation Enduring Freedom, Desert Storm & the military's anti-drug
    cultivation efforts in South America.

    Comparison to Non-Veteran Homeless

  • Homeless vets tend to be older - 46% are age 45 or older
    compared to 20% of non-veterans
  • Homeless vets are more educated - 85% completed High School
    or have a GED compared to 56% of non-veterans
  • 46% are white males compared to 34% of non-veterans
    • Why Veterans Are Homeless

    Veterans become homeless & are at risk for homelessness for the same
    reasons as non-veterans, including due to the rising foreclosure* and
    unemployment rates, as well as due to veteran specific issues. Mental
    Health issues (e.g., PTSD, mood disorders & substance use) have been
    deemed among the primary risks for homelessness among veterans.**

  • Severe shortage of affordable housing, livable income,
    & access to health care
  • Drug and alcohol abuse problems
  • Physical and mental illness
  • Combat related physical & mental illnesses (e.g., PTSD)
  • Reduction in educational benefits
  • Lack of adequate family and social support
    •  The effects of PTSD, including addiction, interpersonal problems & job loss,
    were also associated with homelessness. The effects of combat exposure do
    not disappear as the years go by. Recent studies reveal that 10% of Vietnam
    veterans still suffer from severe PTSD symptoms & that their combat exposure
    continues to place them at risk for negative social & psychological consequences.

    *Foreclosure rates in military communities increased at four times the national average in early 2008.
    **See below for relevant OIF/OEF veteran statistics.

    Operation Iraqi Freedom & Operation Enduring Freedom

    300 vets who returned from serving in Iraq (OIF) & Afghanistan (OEF) sought
    assistance for homelessness between 2004 & 2006. To date, approximately
    2,000 OIF & OEF veterans have sought assistance from the DVA homeless
    programs. In May 2008 U.S. Medicine reported that at least 1,500 OIF/OEF
    vets are homeless & many expect the number to continue to rise. OIF/OEF
    vets are becoming homeless sooner after their return from combat than seen
    in previous wars. They often have no place to live within 18 months after
    coming home, compared to the 10 years on average it took for Vietnam vets.

    The NCHV's Iraq Veteran Project & others have reported that OIF/OEF
    vets are in serious danger for homelessness & chronic homelessness.
    One source reported that in 2007 the DVA had identified more than 1,000
    OIF/OEF at risk veterans. In addition to the veteran homelessness
    risk factors noted above, they identified the following reasons for this.

  • Extended deployment and/or repeated deployment*
  • Unemployment - there are three-times as many (15%) unemployed
    OIF/OEF veterans ages 20-24 than there are nationally (5%)
  • Familial disruption - around 40% of OIF/OEF veterans are from the
    National Guard & Reserve & these families have less access
    to support than families of regular service members
    • *A recent study reported that since 2001 more than 1.6 million US soldiers have
    served & many of them had repeated deployments and exposure to combat.     In March 2009 the overall unemployment rate for OIF & OEF
    veterans 18 and older was 11.2% (one in nine are jobless)
    vs 8.8% for non vets in the same age group.

    OIF/OEF Mental Health

    Between 2002 & 2008 almost 290,000 OIF & OEF vets entered into
    the VAMC system. A study of these veterans revealed that:

  • 36.9% received mental health diagnoses
  • 29% received 2 different diagnoses
  • 33% received 3 or more diagnoses
  • Of the nearly 37% 21.8% were diagnosed with
    PTSD, 17.4% with depression, 7% with alcohol
    use disorder, & 3% with drug use disorder
  • Men were at twice the risk for drug use than women
  • Active duty vets under 25 had higher rates of PTSD,
    alcohol & drug use disorder than those vets over 40
  • 43% received diagnoses when mental health disorders &
    psychosocial problems such as homelessness were included
    •  14.6% of the vets who came in from January to March of 2004
    were diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Almost 28%
    of these same vets received diagnoses in 2008.



    Homeless Veteran Outreach



    Who & What Helps Homeless Veterans

    The DVA reportedly serves more than 100,000 homeless veterans each year.
    Even as the largest federal provider of direct assistance to the homeless that
    is just a percentage of the number of vets who are homeless at some time
    during the year & it has been surmised that they reach only 25% of homeless
    vets each year. Since 1987 their homeless veterans programs have stressed
    collaboration with community service providers.

    According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans a "top priority
    is secure, safe, clean housing that offers a supportive environment which is
    free of drugs and alcohol." They state that "veterans need a coordinated
    effort that provides secure housing and nutritional meals; essential physical
    health care, substance abuse aftercare & mental health counseling; &
    personal development and empowerment. Veterans also need job
    assessment, training and placement assistance . . . helping veterans
    reach the point where they can obtain & sustain employment."

    The most effective programs for homeless veterans, according to the
    National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, are "community-based, nonprofit,
    veterans helping veterans groups. Programs that seem to work best feature
    transitional housing with the camaraderie of living in structured, substance-free
    environments with fellow veterans who are succeeding at bettering themselves.
    Because government money for homeless veterans is currently limited . . .
    it is critical that community groups reach out to help provide the
    support, resources and opportunities most Americans take for granted:
    housing, employment & health care."

    They believe these groups are most successful when they work in collaboration
    with government agencies (Federal, State, and/or local) & veteran service
    organizations and that "veterans who participate in these programs have a
    higher chance of becoming tax-paying, productive citizens again."

    Stand Down is a place like that described above.

    According to Peter H. Dougherty, Director of Homeless Veterans Programs for
    the Department Veterans Affairs, VA residential care programs like Stand Down
    are successful. Preliminary studies show that four out of five veterans who have
    completed these programs remain suitably housed one year after discharge.



    The Homeless Are In Danger

    Some of the dangers inherent to homelessness are easily known, for example,
    those that stem directly from the lack of adequate shelter from the elements
    and food. Florida's homeless veterans are among the most susceptible to these
    effects as they are among the oldest and most at risk due to illness.

    There is an increasing threat to the safety of the homeless. The number of violent
    crimes against the homeless that have been reported* has risen drastically in the
    past few years. A 2006 study by the National Coalition for the Homeless found
    142 violent crimes (including 20 fatal attacks) committed upon the homeless in the
    US. This number demonstrates a 65% increase from the number of violent attacks
    in the previous year and a 170% increase from their findings five years ago. The
    crimes documented included rape, stabbing, battery, and being set on fire. The
    fact that in a significant number of cases, the crimes were committed by teens
    and young adults, for no apparent reason other than boredom, is troubling.

    * The number of reported attacks, especially non homicide, is likely to be significantly
    lower than the actual number of attacks due to the tendency of the homeless not
    to report certain crimes and that crimes such as rape often go unreported.



    Help Us Help Them

    Donations help us provide support & services for these men.

    Your financial contribution would allow our non-profit organization
    to continue to provide services to our homeless veterans.

    To make a financial donation you can use the donate button below or

    to get more information on how you can help us help them click here.

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    Information Sites
    Some of the above material comes from:
    American Journal of Public Health
    Circle of Friends for American Veterans
    Florida Department of Children & Families Office on Homelessness
    Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
    IAVA
    Focus Online News for Harvard Medical, Dental, & Public Health Schools
    National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
    National Coalition for the Homeless
    United States Department of Veterans Affairs
    U.S. Medicine

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     Page updated January 12, 2010