As difficult as it is for those serving overseas in our military, for some it may be even more difficult returning home. In 2019, 284,000 veterans were unemployed and about 240,000 vets reported they were living in poverty. About 40,000 veterans are currently living without shelter. There are now at least 4,333 women Veterans who are homeless. Veterans make up 6% of our population but account for 8% of our homeless population. Advocates lament studies showing that servicewomen returning from the battlefield are the fastest-growing segment of our Veterans homeless population. They say that while male returnees become homeless mostly due to substance abuse and mental illness, female vets face these challenges and more. These include the search for family housing and jobs that can be more difficult for women to find than men. Since 2010, more than 600,000 Veterans and their family members have been permanently housed, rapidly rehoused, or prevented from falling into homelessness through HUD's targeted housing vouchers and VA's homelessness programs.

Proposed Legislation: Reintroduction of H.R.240 - Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Act (117th Congress 2021-2022)
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Julia Brownley (CA)