Across the country, a growing wave of homeless Iraq and Afghanistan veterans find themselves sleeping in cars, on couches, and increasingly, in homeless shelters.

An upswing in the number of homeless war veterans is not a new phenomena in the U.S., extending back to the Civil War. Nationwide, around 200,000 veterans were homeless at some point in 2009, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In New York City, the Department of Homeless Services estimates at least 2,000 veterans are homeless, though the number from Iraq and Afghanistan is unknown. But a half dozen housing assistance programs for homeless veterans noted an increase in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans seeking assistance in the past few years.

Veteran advocates within and without the VA expect this trend to continue as the wars go on.

In the chapter called Homelessness, we investigate the problem of veterans homelessness nationwide and provide a local view about what is happening in New York City. You will read about the history of veteran homelessness, its causes, what is being done, and what needs to be done, to combat this trend.

In the Housing segment, we examine the city’s push to eradicate veteran homelessness by taking advantage of the HUD-VASH program, and the supportive housing options available to homeless veterans in New York City.

In the Cost of War section, we examine the human cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the toll of psychological and brain injuries among returning troops, and the issues surrounding what support exists for soldiers re-integrating to civilian life.

A project by Charles Mostoller and Daniel Johnson-Kim
Columbia Graduate School of Journalism

Rick Braithwaite, a homeless Persian Gulf era veteran, one of the many voices you will hear in the site, including veterans, administrators, and mental health professionals. Photo: Charles Mostoller