Homelessness Among Veterans

January, 16, 2008

Contact: Michael Houston, IAVA (212)982-9699 or michael@iava.org

Homelessness Among Veterans

Here’s what Bill O’Reilly said during The O’Reilly Factor on January 15, 2008:

“Well we’re still looking for all the veterans sleeping under the bridge, Ed. So if you find anybody, let us know, because that’s all this guy says

…They may be out there, but there’s not many of them out there. OK?

…If you know where there’s a veteran sleeping under a bridge, you call me immediately and we will make sure that man does not do it. Is not there.”

Here are the facts:

• Almost 200,000 veterans are homeless on any given night.ⁱ More than 335,000 veterans were homeless over the course of 2006.ⁱⁱ
  
  

• The VA estimates that roughly 400 OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom) veterans are homeless, and has identified an additional 1,000 OEF/OIF veterans as being at risk.ⁱⁱⁱ Additionally, 72,000 GWOT veterans are paying over 50% of their income on rent, leaving them highly vulnerable to homelessness.^iv

• Veterans make up about one-third of the adult homeless population.^v About 18.7 percent of the homeless population in sheltered housing are veterans.^vi
  
  

• As many as 33% of homeless veterans are chronically homeless.^vii

• Most homeless veterans are male; female veterans make up only 4% of the veteran homeless population.^viii Of OIF/OEF veterans, female veterans make up 11% of the homeless population.^ix

• Male veterans are almost twice as likely to be homeless as non-veteran men.^x Female veterans are as much as four times more likely to be homeless than non-veteran women.^xi Younger male veterans, ages 20-34, are twice as likely to be homeless as their non-veteran counterparts.^xii

• Roughly 56% of homeless veterans are Hispanic or African-American.^xiii

• About 45% of homeless veterans suffer from a mental illness, and 70% have substance abuse problems.^xiv

• In FY2007, the government spent over $270 million on services for homeless veterans.^xv

What does 200,000 people look like?

It’s the population of Des Moines, IA. Or Grand Rapids, MI. Or Richmond, VA.

It’s more than the population of Salt Lake City, UT. Or Little Rock, AK. Or Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

Media Availability

Please direct all requests to Michael Houston, IAVA at 212-982-9699 or michael@iava.org.

• Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). Rieckhoff founded IAVA in 2004 after serving a year-long deployment in Iraq. IAVA is the nation’s first and largest group for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, IAVA represents more than 70,000 veteran members and civilian supporters in all 50 states. For more information, please visit www.iava.org.

• Shad Meshad, President and Founder, National Veterans Foundation. Meshad and his staff meet with homeless veterans regularly. Meshad is a licensed social worker and certified trauma specialist who has more than 30 years of experience treating post traumatic stress disorder, and working with veterans and families in need. Meshad was a Medical Service Officer during the Vietnam War, where he counseled soldiers in the field who were suffering from a multitude of psychological and emotional problems. For more information, please visit www.nvf.org.

• Dan Lohaus, Director, When I Came Home. Lohaus’s powerful film documents the alarming and growing trend of homelessness among America’s veterans. It was named best New York-made documentary at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. For more information, please visit www.whenicamehome.com.

Additional Resources

• Swords to Plowshares www.swords-to-plowshares.org: This community-based, not-for-profit organization provides assistance and support to more than 1500 homeless and low-income veterans each year.

• New Direction www.ndvets.org: For the past 15 years, New Directions has provided comprehensive long-term substance abuse treatment to our nation's veterans.

i In 2006, approximately 195,827 veterans were homeless on a given night, representing an increase from 2005. Homelessness Research Institute and National Alliance to End Homelessness, “Vital Mission: Ending Homelessness Among Veterans,” November 2007, p. 3: http://www.naeh.org/content/article/detail/1837.

ii In 2006, there were an estimated 336,637 veterans who were homeless at one point. Homelessness Research Institute and National Alliance to End Homelessness, “Vital Mission: Ending Homelessness Among Veterans,” November 2007, p. 3: http://www.naeh.org/content/article/detail/1837.

iii Erik Eckholm, “Surge Seen in Number of Homeless Veterans,” The New York Times, November 8, 2007: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/08/us/08vets.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1200499525-dA4YTIMQApdBgXLDNeChfg&pagewanted=print.

iv Erik Eckholm, “Surge Seen in Number of Homeless Veterans,” The New York Times, November 8, 2007: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/08/us/08vets.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1200499525-dA4YTIMQApdBgXLDNeChfg&pagewanted=print.

v Department of Veterans Affairs, “Overview of Homelessness,” August 29, 2007: http://www1.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=1.

vi U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Community Planning and Development, “The Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress,” February 2007, p. 32: http://www.huduser.org/Publications/pdf/ahar.pdf.

vii Chronically homeless refers to members of the homeless population who live in the streets or shelters for long periods or repeatedly and with a disability. Homelessness Research Institute and National Alliance to End Homelessness, “Vital Mission: Ending Homelessness Among Veterans,” November 2007, p. 3: http://www.naeh.org/content/article/detail/1837.

viii Erik Eckholm, “Surge Seen in Number of Homeless Veterans,” The New York Times, November 8, 2007: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/08/us/08vets.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1200499525-dA4YTIMQApdBgXLDNeChfg&pagewanted=print.

ix This increase is attributed to the 40% homeless female veterans of OIF/OEF who say they were sexually assaulted, a risk factor of homelessness. Erik Eckholm, “Surge Seen in Number of Homeless Veterans,” The New York Times, November 8, 2007: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/08/us/08vets.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1200499525-dA4YTIMQApdBgXLDNeChfg&pagewanted=print.

x Congressional Research Service, “Veterans and Homelessness,” May 31, 2007, p. 7: http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34024_20070531.pdf.

xi Congressional Research Service, “Veterans and Homelessness,” May 31, 2007, p. 7: http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34024_20070531.pdf.

xii Congressional Research Service, “Veterans and Homelessness,” May 31, 2007, p. 7: http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34024_20070531.pdf.

xiii Department of Veterans Affairs, “Overview of Homelessness,” August 29, 2007: http://www1.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=1.

xiv Department of Veterans Affairs, “Overview of Homelessness,” August 29, 2007: http://www1.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=1.

xv Congressional Research Service, “Veterans and Homelessness,” May 31, 2007, p. 4: http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL34024_20070531.pdf.

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