Addressing the Crisis: Veteran Homelessness and the VALOR Clinic Foundation’s Impact

Veterans, despite representing only about 6% of the U.S. population, account for a significantly higher proportion of the homeless population—approximately 11% of homeless adults. On a single night in January 2024, an estimated 32,882 veterans were experiencing homelessness, with 13,851 of them unsheltered, living in places not meant for human habitation, such as streets, cars, or abandoned buildings. This disparity highlights a critical issue: veterans face a higher risk of homelessness compared to their civilian counterparts, with risk ratios indicating that male veterans are 1.3 times and female veterans 2.1 times more likely to be homeless than non-veterans.

Several factors contribute to this elevated risk. Veterans often face challenges such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injuries, and substance abuse, compounded by difficulties transitioning to civilian life. Military skills and training are not always transferable to civilian jobs, leading to unemployment or underemployment. Social isolation, low marriage rates, and high divorce rates further exacerbate the risk, leaving many veterans without robust support networks. For example, research shows that 1 in 5 veterans lives alone, increasing their vulnerability to housing instability.

The higher rate of homelessness among veterans compared to civilians is a complex issue rooted in systemic challenges like poverty, mental health struggles, and the difficulties of transitioning from military to civilian life.  Through its three-phased approach—outreach, transitional housing, and permanent housing support—VALOR provides veterans with the tools, resources, and community needed to rebuild their lives. By addressing both immediate needs and underlying causes, VALOR exemplifies the power of community-based, veteran-focused solutions in the fight to end veteran homelessness.