Understanding connection: Veteran homelessness and mental health

By Shawn Liu, National Homeless Program Manager, VHA Homeless Programs Office

May 14, 2026

Among Veterans receiving VA care, those experiencing homelessness or enrolled in HUD-VASH (Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing) face significantly higher risks of mental health and substance use challenges—often two to six times higher than Veterans with stable housing.

For some Veterans, mental health challenges may contribute to housing instability. For others, the stress, trauma and uncertainty associated with homelessness can worsen existing mental health challenges. In both instances, mental health struggles don’t exist on their own, they overlap with and can intensify nearly every other challenge a Veteran faces, and without stable housing, even the most effective mental health treatments can be difficult to sustain. However, when Veterans have access to stable housing alongside comprehensive mental healthcare and treatment, recovery becomes possible.