The population of homeless veterans has not declined significantly.
This is according to a new report from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which has identified a significant spike.
The number of homeless veterans increased by 7.4% last year, the largest increase in 12 years, as revealed in the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) annual Point in Time (PIT) count report.
The report also revealed that on one night in January 2023, there were 35,574 homeless veterans in the United States.
Overall, the number of homeless veterans is trending downward, despite a sharp increase from 2022 to 2023.
Since 2010, the number of homeless veterans has decreased by 52% and by 4% in the past three years alone.
This year's results revealed that 20,067 veterans are experiencing sheltered homelessness (meaning living in a shelter). This is a 2.6% increase from 2022.
Meanwhile, there were 15,507 veterans, an increase of 14.3% from the previous year.
Unsheltered veterans accounted for nearly 80% of the overall increase in homelessness seen in 2023.
Jim Whaley, CEO of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Mission Roll Call and a U.S. Army veteran, expressed concern and disappointment with the report's findings in a phone interview with FOX News Digital.
“When you look at numbers like that, we have failed as a nation,” he said.
“We're not doing a good job as a country in keeping veterans from becoming homeless. We're not doing a very good job in ensuring they have a successful transition to civilian life. I haven’t.”
While many veterans are successful in their off-duty lives, former service members experience “a number of significant challenges,” including unemployment, food insecurity, and access to health care and other benefits, Whaley said. pointed out.
Also,” [Department of Defense] “We recognize that 24% of all active-duty military members have food insecurity issues.”
“That's mind-boggling.”
As published on VA News (va.gov), a new government report states that “VA and federal partners are increasing the number of unsheltered veterans in Our top priority is to support the
The article goes on to say, “As of October 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs has already worked with 34,498 unsheltered veterans to ensure they have access to the shelter and housing resources they need.” he added. This exceeded VA's goal of engaging 28,000 unsheltered veterans by 123.2%. ”
“We can do better than that.”
Mission Roll Call's CEO also had this to say about America's veterans and their needs: We can do better than that, and we need to do it as a country. ”
Whaley went on to point out that military recruitment is on the decline.
While many believe the cause is a saturated job market, the CEO said new candidates need to know how the vast majority of U.S. veterans fare without assistance from government agencies. He countered that the situation has come “full circle” by witnessing the incident.
“How do we recruit the next generation of volunteers?” he asked.
Given that nearly a quarter of active-duty military members are food insecure, Whaley said, “I don't understand why the Department of Defense would be surprised by the lack of draft recruitment.”
Whaley called on the Department of Defense to “strengthen the preparation of service members for a successful transition to civilian life.”
“We need companies to understand the value that veterans bring to the workplace. [that requires] “It's really a partnership at the highest level,” he said.
“The president and the Department of Defense are making sure that happens.”
Whaley pointed to the Pentagon's “guilt” in allowing promising young recruits to have “valuable” skill sets and experience after leaving the military.
“This is an empty promise because they have not delivered on that promise in their actions, plans or relationships with employment organizations and businesses across our country,” he said.
“There's no reason why we can't hire 100% of our veterans as they retire from active duty.”
Mission Roll Call's CEO advised active duty military and veterans to “stand together” to continue calling attention to these issues.
“We need the best military to keep our lives safe, and it's done by volunteers,” Whaley said.
“So we have to take care of our volunteers and their families. And we're not doing a good job of that.”
'Do not give up'
John Burns, senior adviser for North Carolina-based Veterans Affairs of America, told FOX News Digital in a phone interview that he was not surprised by the new report.
“Homelessness has long been a problem for veterans, along with mental health and substance abuse, which are often interconnected,” he said.
Burns cited several factors in 2023, including a “downturn in the economy” and a 30-day backlog in Veterans Affairs mental health services that could delay veteran care and cause a spike in homelessness. I mentioned it.
To address the homelessness crisis, Burns emphasized the need to “get the economy right” while improving efforts to protect veterans' mental health.
In addition to homelessness, the veteran suicide crisis causes 17 veterans to take their own lives every day, he noted.
Burns advised veterans, “Don't rely on the VA as your single resource.”
He also suggested reaching out to local veterans service organizations for assistance.
“This is a whole-of-community, whole-of-nation, whole-of-society approach,” he continued.
“Veterans and the barriers they face are ultimately a federal problem, but the federal government is a hammer and not every problem is a nail.”
For veterans struggling with homelessness, Burns said, “The most important thing is not to give up.”
“One too many.”
In an article on its site about the latest report, VA News acknowledged that more needs to be done at the federal level for homeless veterans.
“One veteran experiencing homelessness is too many, let alone 35,574,” wrote Monica Diaz, executive director of the Veterans Affairs Office of Homeless Programs.
The article also states, “We are at a pivotal moment in the national housing and homelessness crisis.”
The article states that some of the solutions needed by the Veterans Administration include:
- “Please redouble our efforts to prevent veterans from becoming homeless in the first place.”
- “Connecting homeless veterans to permanent housing with supportive services.”
- “Establishing an effective shelter system to support veterans and their families.”
- “Increasing the supply of affordable housing.”
- “Strengthen tenant protections and reduce evictions.”
The article continued, “In collaboration with the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, HUD, the Department of Labor, and other federal and local partners, VA is implementing evidence-based initiatives such as Housing First to prevent and end homelessness. We will continue to implement our approach” among veterans. ”
“We will not rest until all veterans have safe, stable, accessible and affordable housing, and no veteran will ever again experience the tragedy and humiliation of homelessness.” ” he added.
