Of the 16.5 million veterans in the United States in 2022, there was an estimated 34,000 veterans experiencing homelessness with another 15,000 living completely unsheltered. According to the Bureau of Prisons for the same year 181,000 veterans were incarcerated in jails, and state and federal prisons. While homelessness rates have DECREASED since 2020, incarceration rates have INCREASED. While overall veteran suicide rates have remained stable at 6,000+, suicides among 18–34 year-olds has dramatically INCREASED.
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The Mission of The Forgotten Veteran
To 'Bridge the Gap' between the incarcerated and homeless veteran and resources while providing information and solutions for the prevention of veteran homelessness and suicide. Most of the links for services and resources will connect to a The Forgotten Veteran.org page.
The Forgotten Veteran / Transitional Programs
The Veterans Affairs Grant & Per Diem Program is VA’s largest transitional housing program for Veterans experiencing homelessness and is permanently authorized under Public Law 109-461.
Since 1994, the GPD Program has awarded grants to community-based organizations to provide transitional housing with wraparound supportive services to assist vulnerable Veterans move into permanent housing.
According to Veterans Affairs, the GPD Program, “is offered annually (as funding permits) by the Department of Veterans Affairs to fund community agencies providing services to Veterans experiencing homelessness.
The Forgotten Veteran / Housing for Veterans
HUD/VASH or Section 8 for veterans, also known as the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, works as a rental subsidy that allows families to pay a reasonable amount of their income toward their rent. In addition to HUD/VASH, several additional programs are available depending on location and access to Veterans Affairs resources.
As a formerly homeless veteran and struggling with service-connected PTSD, Tim has real-time experience with the challenges that come with obtaining sustainable housing. He spent 5 months in a drug-infested, violent NYC shelter while enrolled in the VA GPD transitional program.
For veterans in NYC seeking housing, please visit: The Forgotten Veteran: Housing
The Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) reports that 1/3 of veterans report having been arrested and booked into jail at least once, compared to fewer than 1/5 of civilians. There are more than 181,500 veterans in U.S. prisons and jails.
About half of these veterans were experiencing homelessness just prior to, or at the time of, arrest. About half of veterans in prison have a diagnosable mental health condition as a result of military service. Thousands were sexually assaulted.
"I assure you that, when the numbers do finally drop, it will merely be because those who were pushed the farthest are all already dead" Daniel Somers Suicide Letter
June 10, 2013
Suicide Awareness & Prevention
While there are numerous reasons for a veteran to resort to suicide, the combination of mental illness including PTSD and depression, drugs and/or alcohol, and an unsympathetic justice system, the veteran can easily take the path of least resistance.
There can be any number of reasons, or ‘stressors’ responsible for onset of disorders such as PTSD, depression, or anxiety which can lay dormant for many years to seemingly wait for an opportunity to surface.
The Forgotten Veteran Resource Guide
The mission of Veterans Justice Advocates (VJA) and The Forgotten Veteran is to 'Bridge the Gap' between the veteran and the VA by providing outreach resources, forms and documentation, and other veteran-related services to incarcerated and homeless veterans.
But Bridging the Gap is not so easy when veterans are either in jail or prison, or experiencing homelessness with little or no access to VA personnel, VSO's, even internet service, so are not able to sign up for programs, check on overpayments, or file claims with Veterans Affairs.