The homeless veteran population is not seeing a large decline.
This is according to a new report from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which identified a significant increase.
The number of homeless veterans increased 7.4% last year, the largest increase in 12 years, as revealed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Annual Point in Time Count (PIT) Report.
On a single night in January 2023, there were 35,574 homeless veterans in the United States, the report also revealed.
Overall, despite the increase from 2022 to 2023, veteran homelessness has been trending downward.
Since 2010, the number of homeless veterans has decreased by 52%, with a 4% reduction in the last three years alone.
This year’s results revealed that 20,067 veterans experienced homelessness (meaning they were living in shelters), a 2.6% increase from 2022.
Meanwhile, 15,507 veterans were left unsheltered, representing a 14.3% increase from the previous year.
Unsheltered veterans accounted for nearly 80% of the overall increase in homelessness seen in 2023.
Mission Roll Call CEO and U.S. Army veteran Jim Whaley, who resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, expressed concern and disappointment with the report’s findings in a phone interview with Fox News Digital.
“We have failed as a nation when we look at numbers like that,” he said.
“We are not doing a good job as a country of making sure veterans don’t become homeless. “We are not doing a very good job of making sure his transition to civilian life is successful.”
The number of homeless veterans increased 7.4% last year, the largest increase in 12 years, as revealed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Annual Point in Time Count (PIT) Report. Frazer Harrison
While many veterans have been successful in their lives outside the service, Whaley noted that former military personnel experience “many significant issues,” such as unemployment, food insecurity and access to benefits such as medical treatment.
He too [Department of Defense] recognizes that 24% of all active duty military members have food insecurity issues,” he said.
“That’s amazing.”
The new government report noted, published in VA News (va.gov), “VA and our federal partners have made supporting unsheltered veterans a top priority, both as part of our 2023 Homeless Goals and of the All Inside initiative.”
The article added: “As of October 2023, VA has already engaged with 34,498 unsheltered veterans to ensure they access the shelter and housing resources they need. This has exceeded the VA’s goal of serving 28,000 unsheltered veterans by 123.2%.”
Overall, despite the increase from 2022 to 2023, veteran homelessness has been trending downward. Scott Olson
‘We can do better than that’
The executive director of Mission Roll Call also highlighted American veterans and their needs: “When we look at the base pay of a young enlisted man when he first joins the service, it is only a few thousand dollars above the level of poverty. “We can do better than that and we need it as a country.”
Whaley went on to note that military recruiting has been trending downward.
While many believe this is due to a saturated job market, the CEO responded that it comes full circle when potential recruits witness how the majority of American veterans live without the help of government agencies.
“How can we expect to recruit the next generation of volunteers?” she asked.
With nearly a quarter of active-duty military members struggling with food insecurity, Whaley said, “I don’t understand why the Department of Defense is surprised that they’re not getting recruiting calls.”
Since 2010, the number of homeless veterans has decreased by 52%, with a 4% reduction in the last three years alone. Scott Olson
Whaley called on the Department of Defense to “do a better job of equipping service members to be successful in transitioning to civilian life.”
“We need to ensure that companies understand the value that veterans bring to the workplace, and [that requires] an association at the highest level,” he stated.
“That’s the president and the Department of Defense making sure that happens.”
Whaley called the DOD “guilty” of promising young recruits a set of skills and experience that would make them “valuable” once they leave the service.
“It is an empty promise, because they have not fulfilled it in their actions, programs or relationships they have with organizations and contracting companies throughout our country,” he said.
This year’s results revealed that 20,067 veterans experienced homelessness (meaning they were living in shelters), a 2.6% increase from 2022. John Moore
“There’s no reason we can’t hire 100% of our veterans coming off active duty.”
The executive director of Mission Roll Call advised active military and veterans to “come together” to continue bringing attention to these issues.
“It takes the best military to be able to make sure our way of life is safe, and volunteers do that,” Whaley said.
“Therefore, we must take care of those volunteers and their families. And we are not doing well with that.”
‘Do not give up’
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John Byrnes, a senior adviser at Concerned Veterans for America, who is based in North Carolina, told Fox News Digital in a phone interview that he was not surprised by the new report.
“Homelessness, along with mental health and substance abuse, which in many cases are correlated, has been an issue for veterans for a long time,” he said.
Byrnes listed some factors that occurred during 2023, such as an “economic downturn” and the VA’s 30-day delay in mental health services, which delayed care for veterans and potentially led to an increase in homelessness.
To address the homelessness crisis, Byrnes emphasized the need to “do our economy right” while improving efforts to protect the mental health of veterans.
In addition to the homeless problem, he noted that the veteran suicide crisis means 17 veterans take their lives every day.
Byrnes advised veterans: “Don’t count on the VA as a single point of recourse.”
He also suggested asking local veterans service organizations for help.
“This is a whole-community, whole-nation, whole-society approach,” he continued.
“While veterans and the barriers they face are ultimately a federal government problem, the federal government is a hammer and not every problem is a nail.”
To veterans struggling with homelessness, Byrnes said, “The most important thing is not to give up.”
‘Too many’
VA News, in its site’s article about the latest report, acknowledged the need to do much more work at the federal level for homeless veterans.
“One homeless veteran is one too many, let alone 35,574,” wrote Monica Diaz, executive director of the VA Office of Homeless Programs.
“We are at a crucial moment in the national housing and homelessness crisis,” the article also noted.
Among the solutions the VA needs are these, the article said:
- “First, redouble our work to prevent veterans from becoming homeless in the first place.”
- “Connecting homeless veterans to permanent housing with supportive services.”
- “Establish an effective shelter system to support veterans and their families.”
- “Increase the supply of affordable housing.”
- “Strengthen tenant protections and reduce evictions.”
The article continues: “In collaboration with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, HUD, the Department of Labor, and other federal and local partners, VA will continue to execute evidence-based approaches, such as Housing First, to prevent and end homelessness. among veterans.”
He added, “We will not rest until every veteran has a safe, stable, accessible and affordable home, and no veteran again experiences the tragedy and indignity of homelessness.”
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Source: vtt.edu.vn