While the overall number of homeless veterans has seen a dramatic 52.9% decline since 2010, a stark reality persists: on a single night in 2023, over 35,000 U.S. veterans—a group that selflessly served our nation—found themselves without a home.
Key Takeaways
- Approximately 35,574 U.S. veterans experienced homelessness on a single night in January 2023
- Veterans make up 10% of the entire homeless population in the U.S. despite comprising only 7% of the general adult population
- The number of homeless veterans decreased by 7.5% from 2022 to 2023
- 90% of homeless veterans are men
- 9% of homeless veterans are women
- The average age of homeless veterans is 50 years old
- 35% of veterans experience homelessness within 5 years of discharge
- Substance use disorders contribute to 40% of veteran homelessness cases
- Unemployment rate among homeless veterans is 70%
- 37% of homeless vets have PTSD and substance use disorder
- Depression rates 69% among homeless veterans
- 91% lifetime prevalence of any psychiatric disorder
- 85% of VA homeless programs funded by HUD-VASH
- VA serves over 45,000 homeless veterans annually via 142 grantees
- HUD-VASH has housed over 100,000 veterans since 2008
Veteran homelessness is declining, but thousands still need housing and support.
Causes/Risks
- 35% of veterans experience homelessness within 5 years of discharge
- Substance use disorders contribute to 40% of veteran homelessness cases
- Unemployment rate among homeless veterans is 70%
- 25% of homeless veterans cite eviction as primary cause
- Military sexual trauma increases homelessness risk by 3x for women vets
- Lack of affordable housing is reported by 68% of homeless veterans
- TBI (traumatic brain injury) linked to 30% higher homelessness risk
- 41% of homeless vets have alcohol dependence issues
- Domestic violence precedes 20% of female veteran homelessness
- Post-service poverty affects 21% of veterans, leading to homelessness
- 76% of homeless veterans report mental health problems as a factor
- Incarceration history in 60% of homeless veterans
- Low income (<$10k/year) in 85% of cases
- Family breakdown cited by 45% of homeless vets
- Discharge status (other than honorable) increases risk 3x
- 28% cite job loss as trigger
- Chronic pain from service injuries in 50% leading to opioid use
- Rural isolation contributes to 15% higher risk
- Foreclosure affected 18% pre-homelessness
- 67% have co-occurring mental health and substance abuse
Causes/Risks Interpretation
Our veterans are being discharged into a perfect storm where service injuries become chronic pain, trauma becomes mental illness, and a broken safety net turns poverty into a desperate, threefold-likely slide from eviction to the streets, all while we thank them for their service.
Demographics
- 90% of homeless veterans are men
- 9% of homeless veterans are women
- The average age of homeless veterans is 50 years old
- 44% of homeless veterans are age 55 or older
- Black veterans are overrepresented, comprising 32% of homeless veterans vs. 12% of veterans
- Hispanic/Latino veterans make up 7% of homeless veterans
- White veterans comprise 56% of the homeless veteran population
- 11% of homeless veterans are Native American/Alaska Native
- 54% of homeless veterans served in post-9/11 era
- 27% served in Vietnam era
- Gulf War era veterans are 33% of homeless veterans
- 8% of homeless veterans are LGBTQ+
- Rural homeless veterans are 12% of the total
- 40% of homeless veterans have dependent children
- Female homeless veterans increased 26% from 2012-2014
- 25% of homeless veterans are under 35 years old
- Asian/Pacific Islander veterans are 2% of homeless vets
- Multiracial veterans comprise 4% of homeless population
- 70% of homeless veterans are high school graduates or higher
- Army veterans are 38% of homeless veterans
- Navy veterans 20%, Marines 16%, Air Force 15% of homeless vets
- 60% of homeless veterans have disabilities
- 26% of homeless veterans have severe mental illness
- PTSD affects 40% of homeless veterans
- 50% of homeless veterans served in combat zones
Demographics Interpretation
It's a national disgrace that the face of veteran homelessness is so often an older man of color bearing the hidden wounds of war, yet this crisis also quietly ensnares a growing number of young women and families, proving that the battlefield's aftermath doesn't discriminate by branch, era, or even the roof over one's head.
Health/Mental Health
- 37% of homeless vets have PTSD and substance use disorder
- Depression rates 69% among homeless veterans
- 91% lifetime prevalence of any psychiatric disorder
- Suicide rate 4x higher for homeless veterans
- 46% have drug dependence history
- HIV/AIDS prevalence 1.5% vs. 0.4% general population
- 74% report lifetime alcohol abuse
- Schizophrenia affects 10% of homeless vets
- Bipolar disorder in 12%
- 65% have at least one chronic health condition
- Liver disease from alcohol 20% higher
- 27% seriously mentally ill
- COPD/asthma in 25%
- Diabetes prevalence 18%
- 50% untreated hypertension
- 40% report hallucinations or delusions
- 33% have personality disorders
- 15% have hepatitis C
- Anxiety disorders 54%
- 70% lifetime drug abuse/dependence
Health/Mental Health Interpretation
While our veterans were fighting to protect us abroad, we've clearly failed to protect them at home, as the shocking statistics on homelessness, mental health, addiction, and chronic illness reveal a brutal war of neglect that continues long after their service ends.
Overall Numbers
- Approximately 35,574 U.S. veterans experienced homelessness on a single night in January 2023
- Veterans make up 10% of the entire homeless population in the U.S. despite comprising only 7% of the general adult population
- The number of homeless veterans decreased by 7.5% from 2022 to 2023
- In 2023, 92% of homeless veterans were individuals, while 8% were in families
- Los Angeles had the largest homeless veteran population with 3,878 in 2023
- New York/Newark had 2,727 homeless veterans counted in 2023 PIT
- The unsheltered homeless veteran population was 5,421 in 2023
- Sheltered homeless veterans numbered 30,153 in January 2023
- From 2010 to 2023, homeless veterans declined by 52.9%
- In 2020, 37,252 veterans were homeless on a single night
- Florida reported 3,142 homeless veterans in 2023 PIT count
- Washington state had 1,768 homeless veterans in 2023
- California accounted for 27% of all homeless veterans in 2023
- In 2019, 35,574 homeless veterans were reported, matching 2023 levels
- Seattle/King County had 1,229 homeless veterans in 2023
- The rate of veteran homelessness is 22 per 10,000 veterans
- 12,751 chronically homeless veterans were counted in 2023
- From 2009 to 2020, veteran homelessness dropped 49%
- Texas had 2,060 homeless veterans in 2023 PIT
- Philadelphia had 1,098 homeless veterans in 2023
- 64% of homeless veterans are sheltered, compared to 37% of non-veterans
- In 2022, 38,369 veterans were homeless
- San Diego had 1,589 homeless veterans in 2023
- The District of Columbia had 289 homeless veterans in 2023
- Veteran homelessness declined 11% from 2018 to 2019
- San Francisco/Oakland had 2,030 homeless veterans in 2023 PIT
Overall Numbers Interpretation
While the 52.9% decline since 2010 offers a glimmer of progress, the stark fact that veterans are still disproportionately over-represented on our streets—making up 10% of the homeless population but only 7% of adults—serves as a biting indictment of a nation that celebrates service with one hand and tolerates neglect with the other.
Programs/Interventions
- 85% of VA homeless programs funded by HUD-VASH
- VA serves over 45,000 homeless veterans annually via 142 grantees
- HUD-VASH has housed over 100,000 veterans since 2008
- SSVF program assisted 40,000 veterans in 2022
- Grant and Per Diem program funded 40,000 beds annually
- 93% housing retention rate after 6 months in VA programs
- Operation Stand Down provides services to 10,000+ vets yearly
- VA's Joint Comprehensive Plan ended vet homelessness in 36 communities
- 2022 VA homeless funding was $1.4 billion
- HVRP employment programs placed 16,000 vets in jobs since 1990
- 400+ VA Medical Centers offer homeless services
- Stand Down events served 100,000+ veterans since inception
- 75% of homeless vets access VA health care within a year
- Contract Residential Services for 2,500 beds
- 50 states have Zero Veteran Homelessness initiatives
- Domiciliary care for 5,000 homeless vets annually
- 98% of housed vets via HUD-VASH remain housed after 1 year
- National Call Center for Homeless Vets receives 100,000 calls/year
- 120,000 unique homeless vets treated by VA in FY2022
- Community Outreach programs in 150+ cities
- 2,500+ transitional housing beds via GPD
Programs/Interventions Interpretation
These numbers prove that while we can and should do more, the existing systems are a lifeline that's actively pulling tens of thousands of veterans out of the shadows and into homes, healthcare, and hope.
Sources & References
- Reference 1HUDUSERhuduser.govVisit source
- Reference 2NLIHCnlihc.orgVisit source
- Reference 3VAva.govVisit source
- Reference 4HUDEXCHANGEhudexchange.infoVisit source
- Reference 5ENDHOMELESSNESSendhomelessness.orgVisit source
- Reference 6USICHusich.govVisit source
- Reference 7RURALHEALTHINFOruralhealthinfo.orgVisit source
- Reference 8GAOgao.govVisit source
- Reference 9PTSDptsd.va.govVisit source
- Reference 10NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 11AMERICANPROGRESSamericanprogress.orgVisit source
- Reference 12PRISONPOLICYprisonpolicy.orgVisit source
- Reference 13HUDhud.govVisit source
- Reference 14STDOHIOstdohio.orgVisit source
- Reference 15DOLdol.govVisit source
- Reference 16NVHCnvhc.orgVisit source