Homeless Veteran Population Declines



From the Homelessness Research Institute's
The State of Homelessness in America 2012

The Population Reference Bureau reports that the number of homeless veterans is in decline.  From 2009 to 2011, the number of homeless veterans dropped from 75,600 to 67,500 (11% drop), but the total homeless population only fell 1 percent from 643,000 to 636,000.  38 percent of homeless people lack shelters, and instead sleep on the streets, in abandoned properties, or in cars.  Additionally, while 21 in every 10,000 in the general population are homeless, 31 of every 10,000 veterans are homeless. Of sheltered homeless veterans, 92% are male and 8% female.  52.1% are white and 35.1% are black.  The vast majority are aged 31 to 61, and roughly one in two is disabled.