Thursday, February 10, 2011

Veterans more likely to be homeless, study says

Military veterans are much more likely to be homeless than other Americans, according to
the government's first in-depth study of homelessness among former servicemembers.

About 16% of homeless

adults in a one-night
survey in January 2009
were veterans, though
vets make up only 10% of
the adult population.

More than 75,000 veterans

were living on the streets
or in a temporary shelter
that night. In that year,
136,334 veterans spent at
least one night in a
homeless shelter — a
count that did not include
homeless veterans living
on the streets.

The urgency of the

problem is growing as
more people return from service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The study found 11,300 younger
veterans, 18 to 30, were in shelters at some point during 2009. Virtually all served in Iraq or
Afghanistan, said Mark Johnston, deputy assistant secretary for special needs at the
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

"It's an absolute shame," he said.

President Obama has set a goal of ending chronic homelessness of veterans and others by
2015.

"This report offers a much clearer picture about what it means to be a veteran living on our
streets or in our shelters," HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said. "Understanding the nature
and scope of veteran homelessness is critical if we hope to meet President Obama's goal of
ending this national tragedy within five years."

HUD, Veterans Affairs and the Labor Department have begun a homelessness-prevention
test project in five communities near military installations. HUD is providing $10 million in
short-term rental assistance, the VA is providing $5 million for medical services and case
management, and the Labor Department is providing job training and counseling.
 The findings about homeless veterans are in a joint
analysis by HUD and the VA. The report, a copy of
which was obtained by USA TODAY, is a follow-up to
HUD's report on homelessness last year.

The report analyzed data from a nationwide homeless

survey conducted around the country on one night in
January 2009 and a second study looking at who falls
into and out of homelessness over the course of a year.

Of the 75,609 homeless veterans found on a single night in January 2009, 43% were living
on the streets without shelter, and 57% were staying in an emergency shelter or transitional
housing.

Nearly half were in California, Texas, New York or Florida.

Other findings:

• Minorities are more likely to be homeless. Of all vets in shelters, 34% were
African-American, and 11% were Hispanic. By comparison, 10.5% of all veterans are
African-American, and 5.2% are Hispanic.

• Veterans stayed in shelters longer, on average, than non-veterans. The median length
of stay for single veterans was 21 days, while non-veterans stayed for 17 days.

• Most homeless veterans, 96%, are alone rather than part of a family. Among all homeless
people, 66% are without families.

• The 136,334 veterans who spent at least one night in a shelter during the year studied
amount to one of every 168 veterans in the USA and one of every 10 veterans living in
poverty.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-02-10-1Ahomelessvets10_ST_N.htm