Experiencing homelessness as a veteran can be vastly different from other experiences with homelessness; not only are they struggling with finding a place to live and eat every day, but many also must struggle with mental illnesses such as PTSD while trying to reacclimate after trauma. 

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, about 11% of adults facing homelessness in the U.S. are veterans. Beyond that, 1.4 million veterans are considered at risk of homelessness. 

There are many reasons why our veterans are at a high risk for homelessness, including:

• Unemployment
• Foreclosure/unable to pay rent
• Mental illnesses
• Poverty
• Lack of support or community
• Poor living conditions 

Our veterans need support and community. If you’re looking for a way to help veterans experiencing homelessness, here are a few things you can do:

• Get to know your community. What if you have a veteran at risk of homelessness living in your own community? Get to know the people around you. You don’t need to have much to offer; a conversation and helpful hand can go a long way. 
• Talk to them. Know a veteran? Make sure they have the community and support they need before it’s too late. Whether that means regular conversations with you, or specialized therapy or group sessions specifically for veterans, make sure they have a community to rely on in hard times. 
• Find out what’s being done in your community. Do you know how your local community is tackling the issue of veterans facing homelessness? Knowing this and seeking ways to impact your community can make all the difference. 

Let’s honor our veterans and ensure they’re getting the help and support they need. If you know of a veteran who’s in need of some shelter and resources to transform their life, point them to our shelters.