Is Veterans’ Homelessness The Price Of War?

Most who follow the news hear about the need for housing for homeless vets. What we don’t always hear are the many reasons why so many vets end up on our streets. Clearly, there is not enough housing for vets, a responsibility not only of the Department of Veterans Affairs, but also of the local communities where they live. Federal, state, county and city governments need to devote more resources to this pervasive problem.

Why do vets have so much homelessness as compared with others in our unhoused population? According to Boston University research, “veterans face an elevated risk due to stressors they might experience while they’re on active duty, combat experiences. When you look specifically within members of the military, combat exposure and PTSD are associated with higher risk of homelessness.” Pre-military stressors also contribute to homelessness. Lower socioeconomic status appears to affect those who have served in wars after Vietnam.