Veteran homelessness increased from 2019 to 2020, according to new HUD report
Overall in the United States, 580,466 people were homeless, an increase of 12,751 people, or 2.2%, from 2019. Because the data was collected in January 2020, the report does not account for the economic effects of the pandemic.
“The findings of the 2020 … report are very troubling, even before you consider what [the coronavirus] has done to make the homelessness crisis worse,” HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge said.
Veteran homelessness increased in 19 states and Washington, D.C., between 2019 and 2020, with the biggest increases in California, Nevada and Delaware. California accounted for 31% percent of all homeless veterans in the country.
The number of unsheltered veterans increased by 6%, or 859 veterans, in that time. The states with the biggest populations of unsheltered veterans were California, Florida, Texas and Washington. Women, as well as transgender and gender-nonconforming veterans, were more likely than men to be unsheltered.
The report showed a disproportionate number of homeless veterans in 2020 were Black. Black veterans accounted for one-third of homeless veterans, despite comprising only 12% of the overall veteran population.
The federal government estimates there are currently 55,000 homeless women Veterans in the United States on any given day. For the sacrifices they and their families made, this is an unacceptable state. Final Salute Inc. believes in paying women Veterans with the proper respect due to them for the service they have provided to our country. Final Salute also works with the Veteran in establishing her plan towards independence.
