"When we served in the military, we proclaimed that we would not leave our wounded behind on the battlefield. Today, as veterans and citizens, we must work together to ensure that we do not leave our homeless veterans behind on the streets." --Richard E. Patterson, Executive Director, Disabled American Veterans

With communities around the nation formulating plans to end homelessness, especially chronic homelessness, it is important to make ourselves aware of the specific needs of the various sub-populations. For example, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more common among homeless veterans than among the general homeless population and service providers should take that into consideration, when providing assistance.

According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV), 250,000 veterans are homeless on any given night in the United States and approximately one-third of the homeless population have served in the U.S. armed forces. While post-traumatic stress disorder, alcoholism and drug abuse contribute to homelessness among veterans, many are homeless because of the poor job market, steep housing costs, slashed social programs and military downsizing. The lack of affordable housing, specifically efficiency apartments and rooming houses, is a specific problem. NCHV reports that the most effective programs for homeless veterans are community-based, not-for-profit, veterans-helping-veterans groups and 40 percent of homeless veterans that participate in community-based programs end up no longer homeless.

We, as caring communities, have an obligation to provide the best services possible to these courageous men and women who have served in the armed forces of the United States. As they have served us, it is now our time to serve them and help them recover, mentally, physically and spiritually, from the devastation caused by armed conflict.