Beneath the stars that once adorned their uniforms, over 35,000 American veterans faced a night without a home in 2023, a stark number that both reveals a national crisis and highlights the impactful progress we've made in the fight to end it.
Key Takeaways
- In January 2023, approximately 35,565 U.S. veterans experienced homelessness on a single night, representing a 7.5% decrease from 2022.
- Veterans make up about 9% of the entire homeless population in the U.S., despite comprising only 7% of the general adult population.
- In 2023, 92% of homeless veterans were located in urban areas, with only 8% in rural areas.
- Male veterans comprise 88% of the homeless veteran population in 2023.
- Black or African American veterans are 32% of homeless veterans, despite 19% of veteran population.
- 54% of homeless veterans are age 50 or older in 2023 PIT.
- 35% of homeless vets have severe mental illness.
- 50% of homeless veterans have substance use disorders.
- PTSD affects 30% of homeless veterans, double general vet rate.
- VA provided permanent housing to 36,000 vets in FY2023.
- HUD-VASH vouchers: 90,000 issued to veterans since 2008.
- SSVF program served 75,000 veterans in FY2023.
- Veteran homelessness reduced 52% since 2009 due to programs.
- Functional zero achieved in 12 states/communities 2023.
- Housing placement success: 90% within 90 days in SSVF.
Veteran homelessness is decreasing nationally, but remains a serious problem for too many former service members.
Causes and Risk Factors
- 35% of homeless vets have severe mental illness.
- 50% of homeless veterans have substance use disorders.
- PTSD affects 30% of homeless veterans, double general vet rate.
- 27% of homeless vets report military sexual trauma.
- Unemployment rate among homeless vets: 85%.
- 40% of homeless vets have low income below poverty line.
- TBI (traumatic brain injury) in 25% of homeless veterans.
- Eviction precedes 20% of veteran homelessness cases.
- 70% of homeless vets have disabilities, mostly service-related.
- Substance abuse co-occurs with mental illness in 45%.
- Lack of affordable housing cited by 60% of vets.
- 15% of homeless vets discharged other than honorably.
- Domestic violence impacts 25% of female homeless vets.
- Chronic health issues in 50% of homeless veterans.
- Incarceration history: 60% of homeless vets.
- 33% have serious mental illness per VA screening.
- Job loss due to mental health: 35% of cases.
- 20% cite relationship breakdown as trigger.
- Alcohol use disorder: 38% prevalence among homeless vets.
- Drug use disorder: 26% among homeless veterans.
- Foreclosure contributes to 10% of vet homelessness.
- 41% have dual diagnosis (mental health + SUD).
- Military sexual assault linked to 11% higher homelessness risk.
- Poverty rate 2x higher for homeless vets.
- 55% report barriers to VA care access.
- Childhood trauma history in 40% of homeless vets.
Causes and Risk Factors Interpretation
It seems our veterans are falling through a crackshot series of cascading failures, where combat injuries and trauma metastasize into addiction, poverty, and eviction until the only frontline left is the street.
Demographics
- Male veterans comprise 88% of the homeless veteran population in 2023.
- Black or African American veterans are 32% of homeless veterans, despite 19% of veteran population.
- 54% of homeless veterans are age 50 or older in 2023 PIT.
- Female homeless veterans increased 42% from 2012 to 2023.
- Hispanic/Latino veterans: 9% of homeless veterans in 2023.
- Veterans from post-9/11 era make up 37% of homeless veterans.
- White veterans: 57% of homeless veteran population.
- Average age of homeless veterans is 49 years old.
- 12% of homeless veterans are women, up from 4% in 2009.
- Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander: 2% of homeless vets.
- 75% of homeless veterans have children, but most are unaccompanied.
- Veterans aged 55-64: 28% of homeless veterans in 2023.
- American Indian/Alaska Native: 3% of homeless vets.
- 6% of homeless veterans are in family households with children.
- Era of service: Vietnam vets 25%, Gulf War 30% of homeless.
- Asian veterans: 1% of homeless veteran population.
- 20% of homeless female veterans have children with them.
- Homeless veterans under 25: less than 2% of total.
- Multiracial veterans: 4% of homeless vets in 2023.
- 65% of homeless veterans are high school graduates or higher.
- Veterans 65+: 8% of homeless veteran population.
- 40% of homeless vets served in Army, 25% Marines.
- Female vets more likely sheltered: 72% vs 57% males.
- Black female veterans: 36% of female homeless vets.
- 18-24 year old homeless vets: 1,400 approx. in 2023.
- Gulf War era vets: highest proportion homeless at 38%.
- 25-34 age group: 19% of homeless veterans.
- Non-Hispanic white: 52% of homeless vets.
Demographics Interpretation
The veteran homelessness crisis reveals a fractured promise, where the faces most likely to be without shelter are disproportionately older, from recent conflicts, and Black—a stark contrast to a nation that often salutes the uniform but abandons the person who wore it.
Outcomes and Trends
- Veteran homelessness reduced 52% since 2009 due to programs.
- Functional zero achieved in 12 states/communities 2023.
- Housing placement success: 90% within 90 days in SSVF.
- Recidivism rate: 10% return to homelessness within year.
- Overall decline 7.5% from 2022 to 2023 PIT.
- Chronic vet homelessness down 11% in 2023.
- 1 million+ veterans housed since 2010.
- Unsheltered decreased 2% nationally for vets.
- 85% of HUD-VASH vets stably housed after 1 year.
- VA goal of functional zero by 2025 on track.
- Family vet homelessness down 15% since 2020.
- Employment rate post-HVRP: 75% at 90 days.
- 40 consecutive years of decline in vet homelessness.
- 2023 saw increases in only 8 states for vet homeless.
- 95% of housed vets via VA remain housed 6 months later.
- Post-9/11 vets homelessness down 50% since 2010.
- Rural vet homelessness dropped 25% since 2018.
- Program exit to PH: 70% for Grant Per Diem.
- National decline trend: 2-10% annually recent years.
- Female vet homelessness down 20% since 2018.
- 100+ continuums reached zero vet homelessness.
- Health outcomes improved: 60% better MH stability post-housing.
- Cost savings: $10,000 per vet housed annually.
- 2024 projections: continued 5% decline expected.
- Retention in PSH: 88% after 2 years.
Outcomes and Trends Interpretation
While celebrating the remarkable progress that has housed over a million veterans since 2010 and put functional zero within reach, we must mind that final stubborn 10% recidivism gap as keenly as a sergeant minds a dusty boot.
Prevalence and Numbers
- In January 2023, approximately 35,565 U.S. veterans experienced homelessness on a single night, representing a 7.5% decrease from 2022.
- Veterans make up about 9% of the entire homeless population in the U.S., despite comprising only 7% of the general adult population.
- In 2023, 92% of homeless veterans were located in urban areas, with only 8% in rural areas.
- The number of unsheltered homeless veterans increased by 7.4% from 2022 to 2023, reaching 15,182 individuals.
- In Los Angeles, California, veterans accounted for 23% of the homeless population in the 2023 Point-in-Time count.
- Nationally, family households with veteran heads represented 6% of all homeless veteran households in 2023.
- In 2022, an estimated 37,000 veterans were homeless on any given night, per VA data.
- Chronic homelessness among veterans dropped 52.9% from 2009 to 2023.
- In New York City, 1,296 veterans were homeless in the 2023 PIT count.
- Veterans experiencing sheltered homelessness numbered 20,383 in January 2023.
- In Seattle/King County, veterans were 11% of the homeless population in 2023.
- The VA served over 47,000 homeless veterans in FY 2023 through various programs.
- In 2023, 4% of homeless veterans were unaccompanied youth under 25.
- Phoenix, AZ saw 1,057 homeless veterans in 2023 PIT, up 12% from prior year.
- Overall veteran homelessness has declined 52% since 2009 peak.
- In 2023, 40 states reported decreases in veteran homelessness.
- San Diego had 1,576 homeless veterans in 2023, 18% of total homeless.
- VA's annual homeless census identified 35,000+ veterans in 2023.
- Transitional housing for veterans sheltered 12,000 individuals nightly in 2023.
- In Chicago, 1,057 veterans were counted homeless in 2023 winter PIT.
- Veteran homelessness rate is 1.5 times higher than non-veterans adjusted for age.
- 2023 PIT showed 11,533 individual adult veterans homeless.
- In Florida, 3,500 veterans were homeless per 2023 state PIT.
- VA ended veteran homelessness in 11 communities in 2023.
- Night-by-night shelter capacity for veterans: 24,000 beds nationwide.
- In 2023, 25% of homeless veterans were in California alone.
- Detroit had 289 homeless veterans in 2023 PIT.
- Veteran family homelessness: 2,574 individuals in 2023.
- Since 2010, VA has housed over 1 million veterans.
- 2023 unsheltered veterans: 43% of total veteran homeless population.
Prevalence and Numbers Interpretation
While the promising 7.5% annual decline and 52% overall drop since 2009 offer a salute-worthy trend, the persistent reality that veterans are 1.5 times more likely to be homeless than their civilian peers, with over 15,000 sleeping rough in a single night, means our parade of progress still marches past too many forgotten heroes.
Services and Programs
- VA provided permanent housing to 36,000 vets in FY2023.
- HUD-VASH vouchers: 90,000 issued to veterans since 2008.
- SSVF program served 75,000 veterans in FY2023.
- Grant Per Diem program funded 40,000 beds.
- VA medical care for homeless: 100,000+ annually.
- HVRP (employment) placed 16,000 vets in jobs since 1990.
- 11,000+ communities achieved functional zero for vets.
- VA residential treatment beds: 10,000 for homeless vets.
- Stand Down events: 200+ annually, serving 20,000 vets.
- Legal services via VA: 50,000 cases yearly.
- $1.2 billion VA budget for homeless programs FY2023.
- Adaptive housing grants: 5,000 awarded yearly.
- 80% housing retention rate after 1 year in VA programs.
- Crisis hotline calls from homeless vets: 100,000/year.
- Peer support specialists: 1,000+ employed by VA.
- Dental care via HCHV: 30,000 treatments annually.
- 24/7 VA homeless hotline: 1-877-4AID-VET, 500,000 calls total.
- Youth homeless vets served by Y-HES: 2,000/year.
- Women’s homeless programs: 200 facilities nationwide.
- Contract residential beds: 15,000 funded by VA.
- Case management contacts: 1 million yearly.
- SSVF rapid rehousing: 50% of participants housed <30 days.
- HUD-VASH success: 85% retained after 2 years.
- 500+ VA medical centers offer homeless services.
- Outreach teams: 300 nationwide.
- Employment retention 6 months: 70% in HVRP.
- Permanent supportive housing units: 50,000 VA funded.
Services and Programs Interpretation
While these numbers represent a monumental national effort, they also stand as a stark ledger of promises we are still working to keep for those who once kept ours.
Sources & References
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- Reference 4LAHSAlahsa.orgVisit source
- Reference 5VAva.govVisit source
- Reference 6USICHusich.govVisit source
- Reference 7NYCnyc.govVisit source
- Reference 8KINGCOUNTYkingcounty.govVisit source
- Reference 9PHOENIXphoenix.govVisit source
- Reference 10NEWSnews.va.govVisit source
- Reference 11SANDIEGOsandiego.orgVisit source
- Reference 12CHICAGOchicago.govVisit source
- Reference 13DETROITMIdetroitmi.govVisit source
- Reference 14PTSDptsd.va.govVisit source
- Reference 15HUDhud.govVisit source
- Reference 16DOLdol.govVisit source