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. 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. In 2008, 44% of people 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 -
Specifics
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
Veterans become homeless for the same reasons non-veterans
become homeless, including due to the rising foreclosure and
unemployment rates, as well as due to veteran specific issues.
300 vets who returned from serving in Iraq (OIF or Operation Iraqi
Freedom) & Afghanistan (OEF or Operation Enduring Freedom)
sought assistance for homelessness between 2004 & 2006. In
May
2008 U.S. Medicine reported that at least 1,500 veterans of
OEF/OIF are homeless & many expect this number to continue
to rise. The NCHV's Iraq Veteran Project reported that OIF/OEF
vets are in serious danger for homelessness & chronic homelessness.
One source reported that in 2007 the DVA had identified over 1,000
OIF/OEF returnees as at risk for homelessness. The Iraq Veteran
Project had also found that OIF/OEF veterans are becoming homeless
sooner after their return from combat than seen in previous wars. In
addition to the veteran homelessness risk factors noted above,
the researchers identified the following reasons for this.
veterans 18 and older was 11.2% (one in nine are jobless)
vs 8.8% for non vets in the same age group.
* 15% of OIF/OEF vets ages 20-24 were unemployed in March 2009 as well
Homeless Veteran Outreach
Who & What Helps Homeless
Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs reportedly serves more than 100,000
homeless veterans each year. That is just a percentage of the number of
vets who
are homeless at some time during the 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.
Return to and/or visit these other Stand Down
pages:
Events & Happenings
Home page
In Their Own Words
Programs & Facilities
Staff & Contact Information
Supporters & Donors
Our Other Pages
FHLC Inc Stand Down House's
MySpace page
FHLC Inc Facebook Beneficiary page
Information Sites
Some of the above material comes from:
Circle of Friends for American Veterans
Florida Department of Children
& Families Office on Homelessness
Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
National Coalition for the
Homeless
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
U.S. Medicine
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visitor since September 9, 2008
Page updated June 30, 2009