Too many of our nation’s veterans struggle with homelessness and hopelessness. Across the U.S., we must continue efforts to give those who have served the support they need to have safe, rewarding lives when their time in uniform is over.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said in September that it had found shelter for 43,116 homeless veterans between October 2023 and August of this year. That exceeded the agency’s goal of housing 41,000 veterans in fiscal year 2024, which ended Sept. 30.
While it’s great that the VA surpassed its goal for housing homeless veterans in the fiscal year that just ended, it’s disturbing that so many of those who have served our country were without a place to live.
Homelessness is often related to other chronic problems shared by many veterans. Substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, disabilities, loneliness, depression and other mental and emotional health problems are all too common. Some veterans have trouble adjusting to the civilian workplace and finding jobs that utilize their skills.
All those problems contribute to the high suicide rate among veterans, especially older veterans. National statistics show that veterans are at a 57% higher risk of suicide than those who have never served. The National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report for 2023 said that about 17 veterans die by suicide each day, up 11% from the year before.
So it’s worrying that over the last year, the national suicide hotline for veterans has been plagued with technical problems.
Multiple service outages made it difficult and at times impossible for veterans in a crisis to get help.
The veterans’ hotline — reached by dialing the national 988 hotline number and then pressing 1 — has counselors working around the clock. Sometimes a veteran contemplating suicide needs immediate attention. Often, the veterans just need to talk to someone who will listen and suggest help so that the situation doesn’t become critical.
Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, has urged the VA to make hotline service reliability a priority. It’s tragic when a veteran feels so hopeless, but worse when that veteran calls for help and isn’t heard.
Meanwhile, there is some progress in the battle against homelessness. Since early 2020, the number of homeless veterans has fallen by more than 4%; since 2010, the decline has been more than 52%.
The VA and the Biden-Harris administration have made preventing and eliminating veteran homelessness a top priority. The goal is to get veterans into housing first and then help them stay there.
Among other efforts, the VA in August awarded more than $800 million in grants through its programs for homeless veterans and veteran families. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the VA announced during the summer that changes are making it easier for more veterans to get help through their joint housing program.
These efforts are important, because the percentage of veterans who are homeless is disproportionately high. About 10% of Americans have served in the military, but nearly 13% of homeless adults are veterans.
Whether they were drafted into military service, as is the case with many older veterans, or volunteered to serve since the draft ended in 1973, our veterans deserve thanks, respect and honor. They also deserve continuing support to help them build safe, healthy lives — lives with decent homes and hope for a fulfilling future.
The Virginian-Pilot/Tribune News Service
