Veterans serve their nation with honor and sacrifice to defend our freedom. And once they have separated from service, the transition can oftentimes be difficult. There are a lot of unknowns such as resources for employment, food and shelter. Homelessness is one of the top challenges that can be a huge obstacle as Veterans due to poverty and lack of resources. Estimates show that between 50,000 and 75,000 Veterans are homeless on any given night; that translates to approximately one in 100 Veterans.
Factors Contributing to Housing Issues
Many different aspects can exacerbate Veterans’ lives. From financial concerns and personal illness to a lack of housing options available and issues with finding employment.
Poverty: Veterans coping with posttraumatic stress disorder or other forms of mental illness may find housing to be challenging to secure.
Unemployment: Many veterans living on low incomes struggle to pay rent or mortgage payments on time.
PTSD and other mental health conditions: Many veterans find it challenging to afford housing due to unemployment underemployment, or substance abuse which may lead to financial strain and ultimately lead to eviction.
Impact of Housing Problems
Housing issues hurt veterans. They can result in homelessness – leading to health, mental health and substance abuse issues among other challenges – among others.
Solutions:
There are a range of measures available to Veterans that can help address Housing Issues including:
Providing more affordable solutions is one key strategy to address veterans’ housing issues. This may involve tax breaks for developers who build affordable homes, increasing voucher funding or expanding supportive housing programs. Veterans require access to various support services, such as job training, mental health care and substance abuse treatment programs to overcome any hurdles they encounter when seeking stable housing arrangements. Eviction prevention measures include providing Veterans with legal representation, increasing notice periods for evictions and creating tenant protections.
Conclusion
Housing issues facing Veterans can be an immense source of strain for Veterans. By increasing affordable housing options and expanding support services to prevent evictions, we can aid Veterans in finding secure accommodation that will enrich their lives.
