{"id":4374,"date":"2026-04-20T15:49:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T15:49:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/?p=4374"},"modified":"2026-07-21T18:51:30","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T18:51:30","slug":"why-are-there-a-lot-of-homeless-military-veterans-in-the-u-s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/why-are-there-a-lot-of-homeless-military-veterans-in-the-u-s\/","title":{"rendered":"Why are there a lot of homeless military Veterans in the U.S.?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull va-page-title-1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-179 size-large\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/academic-affiliations\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/05\/Hero2.png?w=1024\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#085795\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading alignwide has-text-align-left\">Featured Article<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"va-body-wrapper wp-block-create-block-body-wrapper\"><div class=\"va-body-wrapper__inner\">\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<form role=\"search\" method=\"get\" action=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/\" class=\"wp-block-search__button-outside wp-block-search__text-button wp-block-search\" ><label class=\"wp-block-search__label\" for=\"wp-block-search__input-1\" >Search Articles<\/label><div class=\"wp-block-search__inside-wrapper\" ><input class=\"wp-block-search__input\" id=\"wp-block-search__input-1\" placeholder=\"\" value=\"\" type=\"search\" name=\"s\" required \/><button aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"wp-block-search__button wp-element-button\" type=\"submit\" >Search<\/button><\/div><\/form>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide va-intro-page va-intro-page-1 is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4fc3f8e1 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why are there a lot of homeless military Veterans in the U.S.?<\/h2>\n\n\n<div style=\"background-color: #0073aa\" class=\"wp-block-create-block-colored-spacer has-0073-aa-background-color has-background\"><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>By Shawn Liu, National Homeless Program Manager, VHA Homeless Programs Office<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Originally published April 20, 2026. Updated July 7, 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/category\/featured-articles\/\" rel=\"tag\">Featured Articles<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-post_tag wp-block-post-terms\"><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/tag\/housing\/\" rel=\"tag\">Housing<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/tag\/pit-count\/\" rel=\"tag\">PIT Count<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\"> <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/tag\/risk-factors\/\" rel=\"tag\">risk factors<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer wp-container-content-c00f5982\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/04\/WhySoMany.png\" alt=\"A close up of the left foot of a homeless Veteran with a cardboard sign that reads \u201chelp\u201d\" class=\"wp-image-4375\" style=\"width:900px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/04\/WhySoMany.png 1200w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/04\/WhySoMany.png?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/04\/WhySoMany.png?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/04\/WhySoMany.png?resize=1024,683 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide va-intro-page va-intro-page-1 is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4fc3f8e1 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here in the Homeless Programs Office, we are regularly asked this question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cWhy are there a lot of homeless military Veterans in the U.S.\u201d?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s unpack what\u2019s going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer wp-container-content-c00f5982\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Risk factors for Veteran homelessness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There has been a ton of research on why Veterans become homeless. These studies often highlight similar risk factors contributing to Veterans experiencing homelessness. Within the Homeless Programs Office, we like to categorize them in two ways: individual-level and community-level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/25595171\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Individual-level factors<\/strong><\/a> include mental health (e.g., combat related post-traumatic stress disorder) and substance use disorders, lack of stable income or employment, history of incarceration, lack of social support, and adverse childhood events.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Community-level factors<\/strong> include lack of affordable housing, lack of economic opportunities, neighborhood factors, and cultural factors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At VA, our goal is to reduce the negative impact of these risk factors by connecting Veterans to VA homeless programs and the full range of healthcare, treatment, and benefits VA provides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Homelessness among Veterans: Risk Factor Profiles and VA\u2019s Tailored Interventions\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XoHVm2N7u-A?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer wp-container-content-1ac3d91d\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Making progress in reducing Veteran homelessness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Did you know, there\u2019s actually been significant progress in reducing Veteran homelessness in the U.S.?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Its true!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hud.gov\/news\/hud-no-26-037\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development<\/a>, data show that on a single night in January 2025, there were 32,495 Veterans who experienced homelessness in the U.S. This is a 56.1% decrease since 2010, and a record low in Veteran homelessness since measurement began in 2009.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2250\" height=\"1266\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/04\/VA-HPO-2025-PIT-Count-Graph.png\" alt=\"Chart of the 56% reduction in Veteran homelessness from 2010 to 2025\" class=\"wp-image-5148\" srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/04\/VA-HPO-2025-PIT-Count-Graph.png 2250w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/04\/VA-HPO-2025-PIT-Count-Graph.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/04\/VA-HPO-2025-PIT-Count-Graph.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/04\/VA-HPO-2025-PIT-Count-Graph.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/04\/VA-HPO-2025-PIT-Count-Graph.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/04\/VA-HPO-2025-PIT-Count-Graph.png?resize=2048,1152 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2250px) 100vw, 2250px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, despite this significant progress, we can all agree that there are still too many Veterans experiencing homelessness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s why VA is committed to finishing the job of ending homelessness among Veterans. It is our nation\u2019s duty to ensure all Veterans have a place to call home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We won\u2019t rest until every Veteran has a safe, stable, accessible, and affordable place to call home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn more about the <a href=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/7-essential-elements-to-end-veteran-homelessness\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5178\">seven essential elements for ending Veteran homelessness<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"va-body-wrapper wp-block-create-block-body-wrapper\"><div class=\"va-body-wrapper__inner\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group va-section-title va-section-title-1 is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4fc3f8e1 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Contact VA for help<\/h2>\n\n\n<div style=\"background-color: #005EA2\" class=\"wp-block-create-block-colored-spacer has-ff-5500-background-color has-background\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are a Veteran who is homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness, we strongly encourage you to contact the <strong>National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at <a href=\"tel:+18774243838\">877-424-3838<\/a><\/strong> for assistance.<br><br>The call is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Trained professionals are standing by to connect you to your nearest VA for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-blue-icon-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/homeless\/nationalcallcenter.asp\" rel=\"noopener\">Chat with a live professional now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/homeless\/nationalcallcenter.asp\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1385\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/08\/NCCHV-Logo-02-Large.png\" alt=\"National Call Center for Homeless Veterans logo. 877-424-3838\" class=\"wp-image-5628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/08\/NCCHV-Logo-02-Large.png 1385w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/08\/NCCHV-Logo-02-Large.png?resize=300,130 300w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/08\/NCCHV-Logo-02-Large.png?resize=768,333 768w, https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/08\/NCCHV-Logo-02-Large.png?resize=1024,444 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1385px) 100vw, 1385px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Taking a look at the state of Veteran homelessness and risk factors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":201,"featured_media":4375,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"priority":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[4,84,68],"class_list":["post-4374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-articles","tag-housing","tag-pit-count","tag-risk-factors"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/why-are-there-a-lot-of-homeless-military-veterans-in-the-u-s\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Why are there a lot of homeless military Veterans in the U.S.?","url":"http:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/why-are-there-a-lot-of-homeless-military-veterans-in-the-u-s\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/why-are-there-a-lot-of-homeless-military-veterans-in-the-u-s\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/04\/WhySoMany.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/72\/2026\/04\/WhySoMany.png"},"articleSection":"Featured Articles","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Shawn Liu"}],"creator":["Shawn Liu"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"VA Homeless Programs","logo":""},"keywords":["housing","pit count","risk factors"],"dateCreated":"2026-04-20T15:49:24Z","datePublished":"2026-04-20T15:49:24Z","dateModified":"2026-07-21T18:51:30Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"Why are there a lot of homeless military Veterans in the U.S.?\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/homeless\\\/why-are-there-a-lot-of-homeless-military-veterans-in-the-u-s\\\/\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/homeless\\\/why-are-there-a-lot-of-homeless-military-veterans-in-the-u-s\\\/\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/homeless\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/72\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/WhySoMany.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/department.va.gov\\\/homeless\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/72\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/WhySoMany.png\"},\"articleSection\":\"Featured Articles\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Shawn Liu\"}],\"creator\":[\"Shawn Liu\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"VA Homeless Programs\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"housing\",\"pit count\",\"risk factors\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2026-04-20T15:49:24Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-20T15:49:24Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-21T18:51:30Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/department.va.gov\/p.js"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4374","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/201"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4374"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4374\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5224,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4374\/revisions\/5224"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4375"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4374"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4374"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/department.va.gov\/homeless\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4374"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}