Serving our Homeless Female Veterans:
A Hand Up
Being a woman owned organization, we believe that women have the power to do anything. As a child growing up in a single family household with my mom the only breadwinner, I watched her, as many others like me watch their moms combat extremely difficult circumstances to keep a roof over our heads, our stomachs full and our innocence intact. Today there are women here in our country who is just as brave and strong as our moms - women who gave up their lives to keep our country safe and protect our liberties.
According to recent studies, it is estimated that there are currently over 65,000 homeless female veterans in the United states. This rapidly growing demographic consists of women of every age, color, and ethnicity. They actively serve in every branch of the U.S. military – including the Coast Guard, the National Guard and Reserves. They live in every part of the country, lining the dives of the big cities and the ditches of rural communities that are utterly incapable of providing for them with what negligible resources their local governments can eek out to meet their needs.
The Homeless situation among female veterans is expected to rise as these women reintegrate into their communities. Most data collecting agencies don’t record the risk factors contributing to female veteran homelessness.
However, women veterans face unique challenges that increase the likelihood of ending up destitute. PTSD (Post Traumatic Disorder) and MST (Military Sexual Trauma) are corollaries to the homeless epidemic, and these disorders when left unattended lead to difficulties navigating everyday activities like maintaining productive employment and taking care of themselves, which add to their downward spiral into hopelessness. Often times the women bounce from one family member’s home to another, sleeping on couches and in strange guestrooms until their welcome is worn thin. The pressures of reintegration – navigating the job sector and dealing with mental issues can become overwhelming, thereby leading to drug and alcohol abuse.
These are just a few of the issues facing the women. Our sisters deserve the chance for a better life, but given the challenges that they face, getting back on their feet can prove to be difficult. Let us repay them for their bravery. This is not a handout, but a hand up! We have the power to change the narrative of who falls down, and who rises from the ashes. Help those women who have sacrificed so much stand tall once again!
Other Resources that need our attention:
http://nchv.org/images/uploads/HFV%20paper.pdf
US Department of Veteran Affairs
https://www.va.gov/homeless/for_women_veterans.asp
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