Missionaries of the Sacred

About one-third of the adult homeless population have served their country in the Armed Services.

Current estimates suggest that 131,000 Veterans are homeless on any given night.

The number of homeless Vietnam era Veterans is higher than the number of people who served in and died during that war. 97% of homeless Veterans are male.

In general, homeless veterans tend to be older and more educated than homeless non-Veterans. However, they also share many similarities with other homeless adult males. About 45% of homeless Veterans suffer from mental illness and a little over 70% suffer from alcohol or other drug abuse problems.

In addition to the factors that contribute to homelessness in general, “a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and substance abuse, compounded by a lack of family and social support networks.” (National Coalition for Homeless Veterans)

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Becoming Homeless More Quickly

Only about 3% of homeless veterans served in Iraq or Afghanistan (the largest group of homeless veterans served in Vietnam). However, a 2007 study by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America found that these veterans become homeless much more quickly than do other veterans. According to the study, Vietnam veterans spent an average of 5-10 years trying to readjust to society. In contrast, Iraq and Afghanistan veterans can end up homeless within just 18 months.