More Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans Wind Up Homeless

The new study notes that the overall population of homeless veterans has remained largely stable in recent years, with an estimated 145,000 spending at least one night in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program over a 12-month period ending in 2010. That is roughly 12% of all homeless adults, the study says.

Both agencies credit federal programs targeting this population for minimizing the growth of the homeless vet population, especially in light of an economic downturn. The population shifts daily. On one night in January 2010, HUD officials counted 76,329 veterans living in emergency shelters, transitional housing or on the streets, in cars or abandoned buildings.

The majority of homeless veterans are white males between ages 31 and 61 who suffer some disability, the report says. Half of all homeless veterans live in California, Florida, New York and Texas...