The Benefits of Permanent Supportive Housing for the Homeless Veteran Population

Of the estimated 88,000 homeless people in Los Angeles County every night, approximately a quarter of them are veterans. The overrepresentation of veterans among the homeless population begs the question of whether military service is affecting the veteran's ability to find stable housing, or if those who enlist for military service are coming predominantly from backgrounds that put them at a higher risk for homelessness, such as people who were already living in poverty before they entered the service.

It is estimated that 45% of homeless veterans have a mental illness, and that approximately half of them are dealing with issues of substance abuse. 96% of homeless veterans in L.A. County are male, but female veterans are 30 times more likely to become homeless than male veterans. Only 33% of veterans who are currently homeless served in a combat zone. (National Coalition for Homeless Veterans [NCHV], 2005)

By the VA's own statistics, their homeless outreach programs currently reach about 25% of the veterans in need, leaving the large majority still unaddressed. (Department of Veterans' Affairs [DVA], 2006) This may be in large part due to the conditions terms through which veterans can get housing. At the West Los Angeles VA, veterans are only eligible for temporary supportive housing services if they are suffering from a physical disability or are willing to enroll in a substance abuse treatment program. Veterans, for one reason or another, are unable to afford housing. This may be due to lack of employment due to substance abuse, or it may be due to lack of income due to low-paying jobs. Homeless veterans are more likely to be chronically homeless than homeless non-veterans.