Ending Veteran Homelessness: Promise and Challenge Amid Persistent Racial Disparities

This Veterans Day presents a dichotomy in our efforts to end veteran homelessness. Significant public investment in housing and other services has spurred a dramatic decline in veteran homelessness. But significant racial disparities remain among veterans experiencing homelessness.

Since 2010, the United States has cut veteran homelessness almost in half, providing a model for ending homelessness for all groups nationwide. Three components were critical to this decline: increased investment, coordination and commitment, and a focus on the most vulnerable.

Read more in Increased Investments in Ending Veteran Homelessness Are Paying Off.

Despite progress in ending veteran homelessness overall, racial disparities persist. 43.2 percent of veterans experiencing homelessness are people of color, compared with 18.4 percent of the general veteran population.

Read more in People of Color Make Up A Disproportionate Share of the Homeless Veteran Population.