Who are Homeless Veterans?

The U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) says the nation's homeless veterans are mostly males (4 % are females). The vast majority are single, most come from poor, disadvantaged communities. America’s homeless veterans have served in World War II, Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Operation Iraqi Freedom, or the military’s anti-drug cultivation efforts in South America. Forty-seven percent of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam Era. More than 67% served our country for at least three years and 33% were stationed in a war zone

 

How many homeless veterans are there?

Although accurate numbers are impossible to come by -- no one keeps national records on homeless veterans -- the VA estimates that nearly 200,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. And nearly 400,000 experience homelessness over the course of a year. Conservatively, one out of every three homeless men who is sleeping in a doorway, alley or box in our cities and rural communities has put on a uniform and served this country. According to the National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients (U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Urban Institute, 1999), veterans account for 23% of all homeless people in America.  

Why are veterans homeless?

In addition to the complex set of factors affecting all homelessness -- extreme shortage of affordable housing, livable income, and access to health care -- a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Veteran Cottages is a group working to build a Veterans Cottage and provide job training for our homeless veterans: Through my own experience with the VA, it became very apparent to me that the needs of our nations veterans are not being met.  One of the biggest problems facing veterans is homelessness.  In 1996, The Urban Institute and the National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients (NSHAPC), projected that there are between 529,000 and 840,000 homeless veterans at any given time.  About a third of them have fought in a war zone and all of them invested some of their lives to defend the freedom we all enjoy. Now these veterans are fighting a all together different war... this war is against the odds to keep warm at night, to find work and provide for their families. These veterans need help to win this war from all of us! One thing we can do is work together to provide a home and job training. In order to do this we need to get funding to take on such a monumental project. In order to do this As part of the plan, we chose to use one of the worlds largest US Flags to rally support.  This is a huge symbol of our freedom and what these veterans fought and served to protect. SuperFlag, has licensed us to use the SuperFlag Jr. The SuperFlag II will tour key cities at various venues, across the US.  SuperFlag II is the world’s 2nd largest US flag.  We will also tour with SuperFlag Jr., the 4th largest, at smaller venues. The tour would bring in revenue through donations and local sponsorships as well as increase awareness of this project. Our SuperFlag Jr. is 50’ x 80’ and is sponsored by GlenBrook Dodge of Fort Wayne Indiana