Why it's Important to Provide Affordable Housing for Veterans

Veterans mean so much to the past, present, and future of this country. No matter what military service they once belonged to -- whether it be the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard -- they embody what this country stands for and what it fights for. 

Unfortunately, history has shown us that our military service members aren’t treated with dignity and respect. Once they’re no longer a member of the military, they often struggle to support themselves, struggle to support their families, and struggle to live a happy and healthy life. 

They often don’t have the necessary health care, job training, employment opportunities, housing assistance, resources, and other benefits or support services that other people have. In fact, many veterans find themselves going homeless and starving on the cold and lonely streets.

So, why provide housing for veterans?

It’s clear that our veterans need our help now more than ever. We can all agree that one homeless veteran is one too many and if we don’t join hands to give them the support they need, they might not have the means to sustain a quality life -- both for them and their family.

The United States Government and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have a number of programs designed to help veterans find transitional housing or sustain permanent housing, but it hasn’t been enough to end veteran homelessness. These programs can only do so much.

That’s why non-profit organizations like ours -- Old Glory Housing -- remain dedicated to helping veterans find quality, sustainable, and supportive housing that they can call home. We firmly believe that no veteran should be without a home and it’s something we’re prepared to change.

Below, we’re going to detail some of the major reasons why it’s important to provide affordable housing for veterans.

Veteran Homelessness Is a Real Problem

Veteran homelessness has been a real problem in this country for as long as we can remember. And while it has gotten better in recent years -- decreasing by 50% from 2010-2019 -- the number of homeless veterans is still alarming, which means we still have a long way to go. 

In fact, a new report by the Department of Housing and Urban Development states that the number of veterans that are homeless or at-risk of homelessness increased in 2020. Today, veterans make up nearly 6% of the population, but 8% of the country’s homeless population.

Housing Assistance Reduces the Number of Homeless Veterans

Veterans experiencing homelessness is a real problem in this country, but it’s one that isn’t going to fix itself. It’s something that requires the much-needed help of people like you and me. And that’s why providing affordable housing is important -- because it’s something that works.

Like we stated above, housing assistance helped decrease the number of homeless veterans by 50% from 2010-2019. Although it increased in 2020 and beyond, that’s in large part due to the COVID-19 pandemic and something that shouldn’t discourage us from turning it around.

It Reduces the Risk of Serious Mental Illness

Many researchers and scientists agree that there’s a two-way relationship between mental illnesses and homelessness. This is largely due to a large amount of stress, anxiety, isolation, lack of social interaction, lack of food, and lack of sleep that’s associated with homelessness.

Mental health issues that are connected to homelessness include depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse disorders. Providing affordable housing for veterans is essential to maintaining mental health and reducing their risk of mental illness. 

It Gets Veterans Back On Their Feet

Being homeless is something that impacts every area of your life -- not just your mental health. It makes it hard to find job opportunities, makes it difficult to maintain physical health, it impacts your social life, and even your emotional health. It’s a vicious cycle that seems to eat you alive. 

When you provide housing for military veterans, you give them a sense of stability in their life. It gives them the confidence to turn their life around and helps them get back on their feet. That way, they can one day support themselves and their family again without anyone’s assistance.

Don’t Forget About the Veteran’s Family Members

Many veterans aren’t alone when they’re discharged from the military and those that are will likely end up starting a family once they return home. That means they’ll have a wife, husband, son, daughter, or even parents to support when they’re no longer a member of the military. 

If these veterans are struggling to support themselves, they won’t have the means to support their family members, either. This makes it difficult to sustain those relationships and might lead to separation -- making the situation worse. Of course, affordable housing could prevent that.



How Can Old Glory Housing Help?

Old Glory is dedicated to helping veterans and their families find success in life by providing them with low-income, affordable housing opportunities. We understand the difficulties veterans are faced with on a daily basis and want to help them enjoy a more quality life after service. 

In the past, we were a for-profit contracting company that would find homes, remodel them, and matches those homes with someone in need. Today, we operate as a non-profit organization to maximize our impact on the veteran community and help as many veterans as possible.