Homelessness among veterans is a pressing issue in the United States, with an estimated 40,056 veterans experiencing homelessness on any given night. Despite veterans making up only 6.2% of the population, they make up nearly 13% of the nation’s homeless. Mission Roll Call, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to addressing the challenges that veterans face, including homelessness, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and difficulties transitioning to civilian life.
Mission Roll Call conducts polls among its membership of veterans across the country to gather data that reflects veteran opinions on policy issues such as homelessness. In a recent poll, a staggering 90.75% of veterans responded “no” when asked if enough was being done to address veteran homelessness.
Retired Army Lt. Col. Jim Whaley, the CEO of Mission Roll Call, highlighted the severity of the issue in an interview with Fox News Digital, stating, “We know that there are thousands of veterans homeless right now as we speak.” He also pointed out that 24% of active duty military personnel are facing food insecurity, indicating the need for better support and resources for military members.
While the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has successfully housed over 46,000 veterans in 2023, there are still many homeless veterans who are not receiving the assistance they need. Organizations like Mission Roll Call play a crucial role in raising awareness about these veterans who may be falling through the cracks of government assistance.
A VA spokesperson acknowledged the ongoing challenges, stating, “Even one Veteran experiencing homelessness is a tragedy. We’ve made progress in recent years in tackling this problem, but there’s still a long way to go.” The VA encourages veterans experiencing homelessness to reach out to the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans, which is available 24/7 at 877-424-3838.
It is essential for the community to come together to support and uplift our veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country. By raising awareness, advocating for better resources, and providing assistance to homeless veterans, we can work towards ensuring that no veteran is left without a home.