As difficult as it is for those serving overseas in our military, for some it may be even more difficult returning home. In 2024, 190,000 veterans were unemployed. That same year 8,874,358 million veterans had incomes at or above the poverty line, and 1,258,524 million veterans had incomes below it. The number of unsheltered homeless veterans is currently about 14,000 including at least 3,300 women Veterans. Veterans make up 6% of our population but account for 8% of our homeless population.

Advocates lament studies showing that servicewomen returning from the battlefield are the fastest-growing segment of our Veterans homeless population. They say that while male returnees become homeless mostly due to substance abuse and mental illness, female vets face these challenges and more. These include the search for family housing and jobs that can be more difficult for women to find than men. Since 2010, more than 600,000 Veterans and their family members have been permanently housed, rapidly rehoused, or prevented from falling into homelessness through HUD's targeted housing vouchers and VA's homelessness programs.

Pending Legislation: H.R.1957 - End Veteran Homelessness Act of 202
Sponsor: Rep. Mark Takano (CA)
Status: House Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
Chair: Rep. Derrick Van Orden (WI)