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Thursday, February 10, 2011

Veterans more likely to be homeless, study says

Military veterans are much more likely to be homeless than other Americans, according tothe government's first in-depth study of homelessness among former servicemembers.

About 16% of homelessadults in a one-nightsurvey in January 2009were veterans, thoughvets make up only 10% ofthe adult population.

More than 75,000 veteranswere living on the streetsor in a temporary shelterthat night. In that year,136,334 veterans spent atleast one night in a

homeless shelter acount that did not includehomeless veterans livingon the streets.

The urgency of theproblem is growing as

more people return from service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The study found 11,300 youngerveterans, 18 to 30, were in shelters at some point during 2009. Virtually all served in Iraq orAfghanistan, said Mark Johnston, deputy assistant secretary for special needs at theDepartment of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

"It's an absolute shame," he said.

President Obama has set a goal of ending chronic homelessness of veterans and others by2015.

"This report offers a much clearer picture about what it means to be a veteran living on ourstreets or in our shelters," HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said. "Understanding the natureand scope of veteran homelessness is critical if we hope to meet President Obama's goal ofending this national tragedy within five years."

HUD, Veterans Affairs and the Labor Department have begun a homelessness-preventiontest project in f ive communities near military installations. HUD is providing $10 million in

short-term rental assistance, the VA is providing $5 million for medical services and casemanagement, and the Labor Department is providing job training and counseling.

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The findings about homeless veterans are in a jointanalysis by HUD and the VA. The report, a copy ofwhich was obtained by USA TODAY, is a follow-up toHUD's report on homelessness last year.

The report analyzed data from a nationwide homelesssurvey conducted around the country on one night inJanuary 2009 and a second study looking at who falls

into and out of homelessness over the course of a year.

Of the 75,609 homeless veterans found on a single night in January 2009, 43% were livingon the streets without shelter, and 57% were staying in an emergency shelter or transitionalhousing.

Nearly half were in California, Texas, New York or Florida.

Other findings:

Minorities are more likely to be homeless. Of all vets in shelters, 34% wereAfrican-American, and 11% were Hispanic. By comparison, 10.5% of all veterans areAfrican-American, and 5.2% are Hispanic.

Veterans stayed in shelters longer, on average, than non-veterans. The median lengthof stay for single veterans was 21 days, while non-veterans stayed for 17 days.

Most homeless veterans, 96%, are alone rather than part of a family. Among all homelesspeople, 66% are without families.

The 136,334 veterans who spent at least one night in a shelter during the year studiedamount to one of every 168 veterans in the USA and one of every 10 veterans living inpoverty.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-02-10-1Ahomelessvets10_ST_N.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-02-10-1Ahomelessvets10_ST_N.htmhttp://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-02-10-1Ahomelessvets10_ST_N.htm