As the number of women serving in the military has increased, female Veterans have become the fastest growing demographic in America’s homeless community.
Today, women comprise approximately nine percent of all Veterans, and the best available official estimates suggest that they make up the same proportion of the homeless Veteran population. Although the overall Veteran population is expected to decline over the next two decades, the number of women Veterans is projected to increase during the same period. Moreover, the number of women Veterans who may require assistance from VA programs for Veterans who are homeless or are at-risk of homelessness is expected to rise by nearly 5% by 2025.
Both in deployment and at home, female Veterans may be more likely to face some challenges than their male counterparts. Without intervention, these risk factors – such as experiencing military sexual trauma (MST), domestic violence, wage disparity or discrimination – can put them at risk of homelessness. For example, women Veterans who have experienced MST are nine times more at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and more prone to substance abuse disorders, factors that greatly increase their susceptibility to homelessness.
Despite these many risk factors, women Veterans are still less likely to access VA care and less likely to self-identify as Veterans. Additionally, there are more community programs – like grants for single mothers, local domestic violence support programs, and more – tailored to supporting women’s needs, making female Veterans less likely to seek support through VA programs. VA continues to
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