By Ahndrea Blue, Making A Difference Foundation
As we honor veterans this Veterans Day, we must look beyond ceremonies and thank-you messages. Veterans gave their all, but for too many, life after service is fraught with struggles. From financial insecurity to homelessness, many veterans face challenges that demand our attention and action. This isn’t just a matter of honoring their service with words; it’s about ensuring a stable, secure life they’ve earned more than.
For those who have served, the transition back to civilian life is complex, layered with physical, emotional, and psychological challenges that most of us cannot fully grasp. These issues can make it more difficult to find steady employment and affordable housing. While the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers programs to help, gaps remain. In the U.S. today, veterans account for a disproportionate share of the homeless population. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans shows former service members represent around 8% of the homeless population despite making up less than 7% of the general population.
How does this happen? Often, it starts with a challenge to find work. Skills honed or gained in the military don’t always translate directly to civilian jobs, and veterans may need additional training to enter the workforce. Additionally, some veterans experience trouble accessing the VA’s educational and vocational training programs due to bureaucratic delays or eligibility requirements that make some of these options impractical. In a society where nearly half of Americans are just one unforeseen bill away from a financial crisis, veterans who lack consistent income or housing support fall into a particularly vulnerable group.
Mental health issues can be a major factor, with conditions like PTSD and depression being common among veterans, with studies showing that around one in five veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq suffer from these disorders. The VA has stepped up its mental health resources in recent years, yet veterans still struggle to access timely care. Wait times for mental health services can extend for months, and in many rural areas, access to VA services is limited. For those without a support network, these challenges compound, leading to isolation and, all too often, homelessness.
Housing insecurity remains an especially urgent issue. While well-intentioned, the VA’s housing assistance programs don’t reach everyone. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) programs provide rental assistance to veterans. Still, funding falls short of meeting the need. High housing costs in cities and long waiting lists leave many veterans without stable shelter.
Programs and nonprofits like the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans and the Wounded Warrior Project have stepped in where federal support lags, providing temporary housing, financial aid, and employment services. Their efforts are invaluable, but they are only part of the solution. Addressing veterans’ homelessness and economic insecurity demands systemic change, starting with greater investment in the programs that serve veterans. Expanding funding for HUD-VASH and other housing programs would allow more veterans to access secure housing. Job placement programs need to receive more support to match veterans with stable employment, and mental health services for veterans should be both accessible and comprehensive.
Communities play a role, too. Local organizations and community members can offer support by advocating, volunteering, and partnering with programs that help veterans. By raising awareness of veterans’ real, ongoing struggles, we can work toward solutions that honor their service in practical, meaningful ways.
This Veterans Day, let’s thank veterans not just with our words but with action and advocacy. They’ve given their service and sacrifice; we must ensure they receive the support they deserve. We have an opportunity to be a nation that goes beyond acknowledgment and provides veterans with a true foundation for the future. Real honor is not found in gestures alone but in ensuring veterans have what they need to thrive. It’s time we step up.
Ahndrea Blue is the Founder and President/CEO of Making A Difference Foundation. Making A Difference Foundation’s mission is to make a difference in the lives of others, one person at a time, by helping them acquire the most basic human needs: food, housing, encouragement, and opportunity. To learn more about the organization and its hunger-related programs, please visit www.themadf.org or by calling 253-212-2778.
