Acknowledgements 

This Veteran Homelessness: A Supplemental Report to the 2009 Annual Homeless Assessment 

Report to Congress was developed by a team of researchers from Abt Associates Inc. and the U.S. 

Department of Veterans Affairs National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, affiliated with 

the University of Pennsylvania. The team was led by Principal Investigators, Dr. Jill Khadduri (Abt) 

and Dr. Dennis Culhane (University of Pennsylvania). Dr. Alvaro Cortes (Abt) served as project 

director and was responsible for leading the data collection and analysis effort. Additional team 

members from Abt Associates are: Christopher Blaine, Larry Buron, RJ de la Cruz, Tracy D’Alanno, 

Lauren Dunton, Justin Epner, Nichole Fiore, Lindsay Fox, Tyronda Gibson, John Griffith, Meghan 

Henry, Mary Joel Holin, Emily Holt, Bulbul Kaul, Michelle Klausner, Joshua Leopold, Saty 

Patrabansh, Maura Pillsbury, Louise Rothschild, Kate Ryan, Brian Sokol, K.P. Srinath, Jennifer 

Turnham, Joshua Vaughn, Jeff Ward, Michelle Woodford, Matt White, and Jeff Smith. Additional 

team members from the National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans are: Thomas Byrne, Ann 

Elizabeth Montgomery, and Ellen Munley. 

This report also benefited greatly from the contributions and support of a number of HUD and VA 

staff. From HUD, the project was guided by Julie Hovden, Mark Johnston, Ann Oliva, and Michael 

Roanhouse from the Office of Community Planning and Development. From the VA, Vince Kane 

and John Kuhn provided comments to the report. 

Finally, this project and this report could not have been possible without the participation of staff 

from Continuums of Care, local government agencies and nonprofit agencies responsible for HMIS 

implementation in communities across the country as well as HMIS software solution providers. 

Their continued commitment is greatly appreciated. 

Table of Contents 

Executive Summary............................................................................................................................. i
 

Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness Among Veterans ............................................................ i
 

One-Year Estimates of Sheltered Homelessness Among Veterans................................................... i
 

Characteristics of Sheltered Homeless Veterans .............................................................................. ii
 

Veterans with High Risk of Becoming Homeless ............................................................................ ii
 

Location of Homeless Veterans........................................................................................................ ii
 

Prior Living Arrangement and Patterns of Shelter Use .................................................................... ii
 

Section 1: Introduction........................................................................................................................1
 

1.1 In This Report ..............................................................................................................................1
 

1.2 The 2009 AHAR Veteran and the CHALENG Estimates ...........................................................2
 

Section 2: How Many Homeless Veterans Are There?.....................................................................5
 

2.1 Types of Estimates.......................................................................................................................5
 

2.2 Estimates of Homeless Veterans, 2009........................................................................................5
 

2.3 How Common is Homelessness among Veterans?......................................................................6
 

Section 3: Who Are Sheltered Veterans?...........................................................................................9
 

3.1 All Sheltered Veterans .................................................................................................................9
 

3.2 Homeless Veterans by Household Type ....................................................................................10
 

3.3 Sheltered Homeless Veterans Compared to Sheltered Homeless Non-Veterans ......................12
 

Section 4: Risk of Homelessness Among Veterans..........................................................................15
 

4.1 Gender as a Risk Factor .............................................................................................................15
 

4.2 Race and Ethnicity as Risk Factors............................................................................................16
 

4.3 Age as a Risk Factor ..................................................................................................................18
 

4.4 Disability as a Risk Factor .........................................................................................................19
 

Section 5: Where are Homeless Veterans Located? .......................................................................21
 

5.1 PIT Estimates of Veteran Homelessness by State .....................................................................21
 

5.2 Location of Homeless Veterans – Principal Cities and Suburban or Rural Areas.....................23
 

Section 6: How do Veterans Access and Use the Shelter System? ................................................25
 

6.1 Movement into the Shelter System............................................................................................25
 

6.2 Patterns of Shelter Use...............................................................................................................26
 

6.3 Length of Stay............................................................................................................................27
 
Section 7: Concluding Observations ................................................................................................29
 

References to Exhibit 1-1...................................................................................................................31
 

Appendix A: Methodology ............................................................................................................. A-1
 

Appendix B: HMIS-Based Estimates of Veteran Homelessness, 2009........................................B-1
 

Appendix C: Data Tables for Calculating Risk Ratios, 2009...................................................... C-1
 

Appendix D: PIT Estimates of Veteran Homelessness by State, 2009....................................... D-1
 
Executive Summary 

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Veterans 

Affairs (VA) are pleased to present Veteran Homelessness: A Supplemental Report to the 2009 

Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress. This report is the result of ongoing collaboration 

between HUD and the VA to understand the extent and nature of homelessness among veterans in 

the United States. The information presented in this report is intended to inform public 

policymakers, local practitioners and the general public about veteran homelessness. It also 

advances the goals of the nation’s federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness (Opening 

Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness) through the collection, analysis, 

and reporting of quality, timely data on homelessness. 

The Veteran’s Supplemental Report provides one-day and one-year estimates of the number of 

homeless veterans nationally. This report also examines the demographic characteristics of 

homeless veterans and compares them to the characteristics of various other population groups, 

including all U.S. veterans, all veterans living in poverty, and non-veteran adults who are and are not 

homeless. These comparisons illuminate the heightened risks of becoming homeless faced by some 

veterans. The report also discusses the location of homeless veterans in the United States by state 

and by type of location. Finally, the report describes the flow of veterans into the shelter system 

and, once there, how they use the system. 

Below is a summary of major findings. 

Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness Among Veterans 

	 On a single night in January 2009, 75,609 veterans were homeless; 57 percent were staying 

in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program; and the remaining 43 percent were 

living on the street, in an abandoned building, or another place not meant for human 

habitation (i.e., unsheltered). 

	 Veterans are overrepresented among the homeless population. At a point in time in 2009, 

approximately 12 percent of all people (and 16 percent of adults) experiencing homelessness 

identified as a veteran, as did 10 percent of those homeless over the course of a year. Less 

than 8 percent of the total U.S. population has veteran status. 

One-Year Estimates of Sheltered Homelessness Among Veterans 

	 An estimated 136,334 veterans spent at least one night in an emergency shelter or transitional 

housing program between October 1, 2008 and September 30, 2009. This accounts for 1 of 

every 168 veterans in the U.S. or 1 out of every 10 veterans living in poverty. 

	 Just over 96 percent of sheltered veterans were individuals, and just less than 4 percent were 

veterans who were a part of a family. 

	 While homeless veterans make up less than 1 percent of all veterans, within the poverty 

population veterans are at greater risk of homelessness than non-veterans. Ten percent of 

veterans in poverty became homeless at some point during the year, compared to just over 5 

percent of adults in poverty. 

Executive Summary i 
Characteristics of Sheltered Homeless Veterans 

	 Homeless veterans are most often white men, between the ages of 31 and 50 years, with a 

disability, and alone in shelter. 

	 The small number of sheltered homeless veterans in families typically are younger, minority 

women and less likely to have a disability. However, sheltered homeless veterans in families 

are more likely to have a male adult present in the household than other homeless families. 

Veterans with High Risk of Becoming Homeless 

	 Rates of homelessness among veterans living in poverty are particularly high for veterans 

identifying as Hispanic/Latino (1 in 4) or African American (1 in 4). 

	 Two groups of homeless veterans—women and people between age 18 and 30—are small in 

number. However, female veterans and young veterans are at high risk of becoming 

homeless, and both groups are growing within the overall veteran population. 

Location of Homeless Veterans 

	 Similar to the overall homeless population, almost half of homeless veterans on a given night 

were located in four states: California, Florida, Texas, and New York. Only 28 percent of all 

veterans were located in those same four states. 

	 The share of homeless veterans located in the densest urban areas (or principal cities) is more 

than twice that of all veterans (72 percent compared to 31 percent). 

Prior Living Arrangement and Patterns of Shelter Use 

	 Most sheltered veterans entered shelter or transitional housing from another homeless 

situation. In 2009, 46 percent of sheltered veterans accessed residential services from some 

other homeless situation (25 percent from emergency shelter or transitional housing and 21 

percent from an unsheltered location). 

	 Veterans were less likely than non-veterans to have come from housing –either their own unit 

or that of a friend or family member. Approximately 32 percent of veterans came from 

housing compared to 42 percent of non-veterans. 

	 Of those who did come from housing, veterans were more likely than non-veterans to come 

from their own unit (40 percent compared to 26 percent) and less likely to have been doubled 

up with friends or family (58 percent compared to 73 percent for non-veterans). 

	 Most veterans who used emergency shelter did not use it for very long. One-third of veterans 

stayed in shelter for less than one week, 61 percent used shelter for less than one month, and 

84 percent stayed for less than 3 months. 

	 Veterans who were alone had a median length of stay of 21 days in emergency shelter and 

117 days in transitional housing. The median length of stay for non-veterans who were alone 

was 17 days in emergency shelter and 106 days in transitional housing. For veterans in 

homeless families, the median length of stay in emergency shelter was 30 days and 137 days 

in transitional housing. The median length of stay for non-veterans in homeless families was 

36 days in emergency shelter and 175 days in transitional housing. 

ii Executive Summary 
 

 

 

Section 1: Introduction 

This first supplemental Annual Homeless Assessment Report on veteran homelessness (2009 

Veteran AHAR) describes the extent and nature of homelessness among veterans in America. The 

report provides national estimates of homeless veterans and describes their demographic 

characteristics and patterns of shelter use. The report also identifies the risk of homelessness for 

particular demographic subgroups of veterans and compares the risks of homelessness for veterans 

compared to non-veterans within those subgroups. As a companion to the AHAR, this report uses 

both annual Point-in-Time data and longitudinal administrative data from Homeless Management 

Information Systems that are reported by local Continuums of Care (CoC)1

 nationwide. 

This 2009 Veteran AHAR is being released on the heels of the 2010 Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent 

and End Homelessness.2 The plan includes the goal of preventing and ending homelessness among 

veterans in five years. To achieve this goal, the plan puts forth a comprehensive framework that is 

designed to improve housing stability, economic security, and health among homeless veterans. The 

framework calls for government agencies at all levels to “break down the silos” that hinder crossagency collaborations and forge stronger partnerships.3 Indeed, this report results from an ongoing 

partnership between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. 

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to better understand how homelessness affects our nation’s 

veterans. The report builds on a solid foundation of collaboration between HUD and the VA that 

includes the provision of housing assistance and clinical services to homeless veterans through the 

HUD – VA Supportive Housing program (or HUD-VASH), as well as the provision of preventive 

services to address the needs of veterans who are at risk of becoming homeless. Continuing these 

collaborative partnerships will ensure that resources targeted to homeless veterans are leveraged 

effectively to prevent and end homelessness among veterans in five years. 

HUD and the VA intend to partner on future annual Veteran supplements to the AHAR. These 

supplemental reports will monitor changes in veteran homelessness over time and provide 

policymakers and practitioners with updated annual data that can inform future policies and services. 

1.1 In This Report 

Section 1—Introduction. The remainder of this section provides a brief review of previous attempts 

to enumerate homelessness among veterans, describing how this report differs from those past 

efforts. 

Section 2—How Many Homeless Veterans Are There? This section presents the national estimates of 

veterans in 2009, focusing on the prevalence of homeless veterans on a single night in January 2009 

and during a 12-month period (October 2008 to September 2009). 

1	 Continuums of Care are local planning bodies responsible for coordinating the full range of homelessness services in 

a geographic area, which may cover a city, county, metropolitan area, or even an entire state. 

2	 United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. 2010. Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and 

End Homelessness. 

3

 Id., p. 30. 

Section 1: Introduction 1 
Section 3—Who Are Sheltered Homeless Veterans? This section presents the demographic 

characteristics of sheltered homeless veterans who used a residential homeless program during the 

12-month reporting period. 

Section 4—Are Veterans at Greater Risk of Homelessness? This section focuses on the proportions 

of different demographic subgroups that become homeless for groups of veterans and non-veterans 

and illuminates the types of veterans at particularly great risk of becoming homeless. 

Section 5—Where Are Sheltered Homeless Veterans Located? This section describes the spatial 

distribution of homeless veterans across the nation and in different types of geographic locations. 

Section 6—How Do Sheltered Homeless Veterans Use the Shelter System? The section describes 

how veterans move into the system and how homeless veterans use emergency shelters and 

transitional housing programs once they access services. 

Section 7—Concluding Observations. The section provides a few summary comments about the 

findings of this first supplemental report to the AHAR on veteran homelessness. 

Appendix A describes the methodology used to generate the PIT and HMIS-based estimates. 

Appendix B presents the detailed estimates based on HMIS data. Appendix C provides the detailed 

data tables used to calculate the risk ratios. Appendix D provides information on the estimated 

number of veterans on a single night in January 2009 by state. 

1.2 The 2009 AHAR Veteran and the CHALENG Estimates 

Until recently, the literature on veteran homelessness was thin, because researchers had difficulties 

collecting information from people without fixed addresses. (Exhibit 1-1 summarizes the key 

findings from studies on homelessness among veterans conducted since the 1980s.) Like the general 

homeless population, homeless veterans are transient, moving in and out of the shelter system and 

medical facilities, as well as spending nights in places not meant for human habitation—such as 

abandoned buildings, cars or encampments. Their mobility complicates efforts to estimate 

accurately the number of homeless veterans, because it increases the chances that a veteran maybe 

double counted. The mobility of homeless veterans means researchers find it difficult to administer 

surveys about the characteristics and service needs of homeless veterans. The homeless veteran may 

not be present when and where the survey is conducted. 

Starting in the mid-1990s, the VA provided data on homeless veterans through a report called 

CHALENG (Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups for 

Veterans). The CHALENG Report used questionnaires completed by VA staff, community 

providers, and homeless veterans to estimate the number of homeless veterans and describe their 

service needs. CHALENG estimates focused on veterans who accessed services from VA medical 

facilities and relied mostly on staff knowledge about veterans’ homelessness status. The CHALENG 

estimates were made to support a primary function of the report – identifying unmet needs of 

homeless veterans. 

In 2004, the CHALENG report adopted a point-in-time (PIT) estimate rather than an annual estimate 

of veteran homelessness. This “snapshot” of homelessness estimated that there were 192,000 

2 Section 1: Introduction 
homeless veterans on any given night; the prior year’s CHALENG report had estimated that 313,000 

veterans had been homeless at some time during 2003. In 2007, the CHALENG report rescheduled 

the day of the PIT count to coincide with HUD’s PIT date, occurring at the end of January. This 

change contributed to a drop in the PIT estimate from 195,000 in 2006 to 154,000 in 2007. 

Exhibit 1-1: What is Known about Homeless Veterans from Past Studies? 

Percentage of Veterans Among the Homeless 

A number of studies have found veterans to be overrepresented in the homeless population. Early studies found that 

between 33 percent and an estimated 41 percent of homeless men in 1987 and 1996 reported past military service, 

compared with 28 percent and 34 percent in the general adult male population (Rosenheck et al., 1994; Gamache et al., 

2001). Overrepresentation was not limited to men; 23 percent of all adults receiving homeless services in 1996 were 

estimated to be veterans compared to 13 percent of all adults (Burt el al., 2001). Among homeless women in 1996, 3 to 

4 percent were estimated to be veterans, compared to 1 percent in the general adult female population (Gamache et al., 

2003). 

Characteristics of Homeless Veterans 

Studies comparing homeless veterans with homeless non-veterans have found differences in race, sex, age, rates of 

alcohol abuse, education levels, and average length of homelessness, many of which are supported by findings in this 

report. Common research findings are that homeless veterans are generally older than homeless non-veterans and more 

likely to be white than homeless non-veterans (Schutt, 1986; Robertson, 1987; Roth, 1992; Rosenheck and Koegel, 

1993; Winkleby and Fleshin, 1993; and O’Toole et al., 2003). Women are a much smaller percentage of veterans than of 

the general population and, accordingly, earlier studies found homeless veterans much less likely than homeless nonveterans to be women (Gamache et al., 2003). Both male and female homeless veterans report higher levels of education 

than their homeless non-veteran counterparts (Rosenheck and Koegel, 1993; Gamache et al., 2003). 

Researchers have also found higher rates of alcohol abuse among homeless veterans compared to homeless non-veterans 

(Robertson, 1987; Roth, 1992; Rosenheck and Koegel, 1993; and Winkleby and Fleshin, 1993), even when controlling 

for age and other correlates of alcohol abuse (Tessler et al., 2002). Finally, in comparison with non-veterans, veterans 

have been found more likely to be homeless for more than one year (Tessler et al., 2002). 

Risk Factors for Homelessness 

Research has suggested that the risk of homelessness for veterans may be related to factors as diverse as age, race, 

psychiatric illness, and economic status prior to entry in the military. Other factors such as combat exposure, wartime 

trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may have an indirect effect on the risk of homelessness among male 

veterans to the extent that these conditions are associated with social isolation and psychiatric hospitalization, which 

directly increase a veteran’s risk for homelessness (Rosenheck and Fontana, 1994). Experiences prior to military service 

can alter a veteran’s risk of homelessness; pre-military traumas, such as childhood abuse or placement in foster care, 

have been found to be significantly and directly related to homelessness later in life (Rosenheck and Fontana, 1994). For 

female veterans, factors occurring prior to, during, and following military service have been found to affect risk of 

homelessness; sexual assault during military service, unemployment, poor health, and having an anxiety disorder or 

PTSD have all been associated with homelessness among female veterans. Conversely, two characteristics appear to 

protect against homelessness for female veterans: having a college degree and being married (Washington et al., 2010). 

Since 2007, the CHALENG report has increasingly relied upon HUD PIT counts as the basis for its 

estimates. VA staff responsible for formulating local estimates continued to make upward 

adjustments to the HUD PIT estimates to account for homeless veterans they believed were excluded 

from the count (e.g., veterans located in rural communities and in VA programs). These upward 

adjustments likely resulted in some duplicate counting of homeless veterans and, in some 

communities, an over-estimation of veteran homelessness. 

Section 1: Introduction 3 
 

 

The PIT estimate in this 2009 Veteran AHAR addresses the known areas of undercounting (e.g., 

veterans served in VA Grant and Per Diem programs), while avoiding potential duplication issues by 

using a standardized, validated methodology developed by staff from HUD and the VA’s National 

Center on Homelessness Among Veterans.4 The definition of homelessness established in the 

McKinney-Vento Act was used in this report. The 2009 PIT estimate of homeless veterans 

presented in this report is slightly larger than HUD’s earlier estimate presented in the 2009 AHAR, 

but likely lower than the estimate that would have been issued by the VA for the 2010 CHALENG 

Report. Although further refinements may be made in the 2010 CHALENG reporting process, the 

new, more reliable methodology developed for the 2009 Veteran AHAR will be used by the VA and 

HUD in their joint endeavor to achieve the most accurate count of homelessness among our nation’s 

veterans. 

Producing these estimates will continue to improve with coordination between the VA and HUD to 

address the needs of homeless veterans. VA programs that serve homeless veterans are expected to 

participate fully in the January 2011 PIT count, and many will begin participation in local Homeless 

Management Information Systems (HMIS). Participation in communities’ HMIS will ensure that 

the 2011 AHAR will capture the most accurate estimates to date of veteran homelessness at the 

national and local levels. 

Communities are required to report PIT estimates of sheltered homeless veterans, but identifying which homeless 

people in unsheltered locations are veterans is optional. In 2009, approximately 65 percent of CoCs reported an 

unsheltered count of veterans. Appendix A describes how statistical adjustments were applied to produce a 

complete estimate of sheltered and unsheltered veterans. The veteran status of homeless persons is self-reported in 

both the PIT estimates and the HMIS data. 

4 Section 1: Introduction 

4 
 

 

 

Section 2: How Many Homeless Veterans Are There? 

2.1 Types of Estimates 

This section provides the national estimates of homelessness among veterans in 2009 (see Exhibit 2-

1). The section presents two types of estimates: 

1.	 Point-in-Time (PIT) estimates of all sheltered and unsheltered homeless veterans on a single 

night in January 2009. The PIT estimates are submitted to HUD annually and account for 

homeless veterans in emergency shelter or transitional housing on the night of the PIT count (i.e., 

sheltered) and homeless veterans who are in places not meant for human habitation such as the 

streets, abandoned buildings, cars, or encampments (i.e., unsheltered). The PIT estimates 

reported by communities were adjusted statistically to account for missing information.5 

2.	 One-year estimates of sheltered homeless veterans based on Homeless Management Information 

Systems (HMIS) data. HMIS are electronic administrative databases that are designed to record 

and store client-level information on the characteristics and service needs of homeless persons. 

The one-year estimates account for veterans who access an emergency shelter or transitional 

housing facility during a 12-month period (October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009) and are 

unduplicated to account for veterans who use residential service program multiple times during 

the year. In 2009, 300 communities submitted usable HMIS data on sheltered homeless 

veterans, representing 36,039 person records. These data are adjusted statistically to provide the 

nationally representative, one-year estimates. 

To read more about the methodology behind the estimates in this report, see Appendix A. 

2.2 Estimates of Homeless Veterans, 2009 

PIT Estimate. On a single night in January 2009 there were an estimated 75,609 homeless 

veterans—sheltered and unsheltered. More than 43,000 (57 percent) of the veterans were sleeping in 

emergency shelters or transitional housing and the remaining 32,000 (43 percent) were sleeping on 

the streets, in cars, in abandoned buildings, or in other places not meant for human habitation. 

One-Year Estimate. An estimated 136,334 people self-identified as veterans and spent at least one 

night in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program in 2009. This is 1 in every 168 

veterans throughout the United States or 1 in every 10 veterans living in poverty. Almost 97 percent 

of sheltered veterans were served as individuals, and just under 4 percent were veterans who were 

5	 The statistical adjustments were conducted to account for four types of missing data. First, there were 5,836 beds 

for homeless veterans that were missing from HUD’s national inventory of homeless residential service providers 

and thus presumably excluded from the PIT count of sheltered veterans. Second, approximately two-thirds of CoCs 

used an HMIS to generate their estimates of sheltered homeless veterans, and about 5.4 percent of HMIS records 

were missing information on veteran status. Third, three CoCs in 2009 did not report data on the number of 

sheltered veterans. Finally, 19 percent of CoCs had missing information for the number of unsheltered veterans, and 

16 percent reported zero unsheltered veterans. 

Section 2: How Many Homeless Veterans Are There? 5 
 

 

homeless as part of a family.6 The proportion of veterans served as members of families is much 

lower than the non-veteran sheltered adult population; about 20 percent of non-veteran sheltered 

adults experience homelessness as part of a family. 

Appendix B presents the detailed estimates based on HMIS data. 

Exhibit 2-2: Estimates of Homelessness Among Veterans in the United States, 2009 

Type of Estimate Number Percent Coverage 

PIT One-Night Count1 75,609 100% Sheltered and unsheltered 

One-Year Estimate2 

Total 136,334 100% Sheltered only 

Adult Individuals 132,160 96.3% 

Adults in Families3 5,091 3.7% 

1 The PIT estimate accounts for sheltered and unsheltered homeless veterans on a single night in January 2009. Data source: 

Continuum of Care Point-in-Time Counts, January 2009 2	 The HMIS-based estimates reflect the number of veterans in the 50 states and the District of Columbia who used emergency shelters 

or transitional housing programs during the one-year period from October 1 through September 30 of the following year. The 

estimates include an extrapolation adjustment to account for veterans who use emergency shelters and transitional housing programs 

but whose jurisdictions do not yet participate in their respective HMIS. A homeless veteran who does not use an emergency shelter or 

transitional housing during the 12-month period is not included in this estimate. The number of veterans served as individuals 

(132,160) and as adults in families (5,091) will not equal to the total unduplicated count of sheltered homeless veterans because 918 

veterans were served as both individuals and as members of a family. In 2009, the 95 percent confidence interval for the estimated 

number of sheltered homeless veterans in the population was 78,765 to 193,901 veterans (or +/- 57,568 veterans). Data source: 

Homeless Management Information System, 2009. 3 In the AHAR, a family is defined as a household composed of at least one adult and one child. The household status of a veteran is 

determined when the veteran enters an emergency shelter or transitional housing program. The estimate of veterans in families may 

be an undercount if veterans access shelter as individuals but have family members living elsewhere, for example, with family or 

friends. 

Sources: 2009 Continuum of Care Applications: Exhibit 1, CoC Point-in-Time Homeless Population and Subpopulations 

Charts; 2009 Homeless Management Information Systems. 

2.3 How Common is Homelessness among Veterans? 

Veterans are overrepresented among the homeless population. Veterans constitute just under 8 

percent of the total U.S. population and, based on the PIT estimates, they account for 12 percent of 

the total homeless population (and 16 percent of homeless adults) on a given night. Their 

overrepresentation is reinforced by the one-year estimates. Approximately 10 percent of all people 

who experienced homelessness over the year identified themselves as veterans. 

Homeless veterans comprise a relatively small share of the total veteran population. Less than 1 

percent (0.64 percent)7 of veterans in 2009 was homeless. The low rates of homelessness among 

6	 In the AHAR, a family is defined as a household composed of at least one adult and one child. The household status 

of a veteran is determined when the veteran enters an emergency shelter or transitional housing program during the 

12-month reporting period. The estimate of veterans in families may be an undercount if veterans access shelter as 

individuals but have family members living elsewhere, for example, with family or friends. 

6 Section 2: How Many Homeless Veterans Are There? 
 

 

 

veterans may reflect the relatively good economic circumstances of most veterans. Veterans have 

higher median incomes than the general population, and their poverty rate is half the rate of the total 

U.S. population (6 percent compared to 13 percent). However, once veterans become impoverished, 

they are more likely to descend further into homelessness. In 2009, just under 10 percent of veterans 

in poverty spent at least one night in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program. This is 

roughly double the rate of homelessness for all adults in poverty, which was 5.5 percent in 2009.8 

Detailed comparisons between veterans and non-veterans, including risks of homelessness among 

various subgroups, are discussed in Section 4. The next section provides some basic demographic 

characteristics for veterans who were homeless at some time during 2009. 

7	 Based on 2009 ACS 1-year estimates of veterans. Subject Table S2101. 

http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/STTable?_bm=y&-qr_name=ACS_2009_1YR_G00_S2101&-

geo_id=01000US&-ds_name=ACS_2009_1YR_G00_&-_lang=en&-format=&-CONTEXT=st 

8	 Ibid. 

Section 2: How Many Homeless Veterans Are There? 7 

 

Section 3: Who Are Sheltered Veterans? 

This section presents a demographic profile of sheltered homeless veterans based on HMIS data. 

Sheltered homeless veterans are compared to all veterans and to all U.S. adults to illustrate the ways in 

which homeless veterans are different. Sheltered homeless veterans are also compared with homeless 

non-veterans. Programs that serve homeless veterans may need to tailor their services to properly align 

with the special characteristics of veterans who become homeless and of homeless people who are 

veterans. 

3.1 All Sheltered Veterans 

Homelessness affects veterans of all genders, ethnicities, races and ages. Exhibit 3-1 presents the 

demographic characteristics for sheltered homeless veterans in 2009 and compares this profile with 

that of all U.S. adults and the total veteran population. 

Exhibit 3-1: Demographic Characteristics of Sheltered Homeless Veterans, All 

Veterans, and All U.S. Adults, 2009 

Characteristic 

Sheltered Homeless 

Veterans All Veterans 

All U.S. 

Adults 

Number 136,334 22,906,784 231,718,105 

Gender 

Female 7.5% 6.8% 51.5% 

Male 92.5% 93.2% 48.5% 

Ethnicity 

Non–Hispanic/non–Latino 88.9% 94.8% 86.4% 

Hispanic/Latino 11.1% 5.2% 13.6% 

Race 

White, non–Hispanic/non–Latino 49.2% 81.2% 68.1% 

White Hispanic/Latino 8.3% 3.6% 8.6% 

Black or African American 34.0% 10.5% 11.8% 

Asian 0.3% 1.2% 4.6% 

American Indian or Alaska Native 3.4% 0.7% 0.8% 

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 0.4% 0.1% 0.1% 

Other/Several races 4.4% 2.7% 6.0% 

Age 

18 to 30 8.4% 8.0% 24.2% 

31 to 50 44.6% 23.1% 36.5% 

51 to 61 38.1% 21.4% 18.5% 

62 and older 8.9% 47.4% 20.8% 

Sources: 2009 Homeless Management Information Systems; U.S. Census Bureau 2006-2008 American Community 

Survey 3-Year Estimates. 

Section 3: Who Are Sheltered Veterans? 9 
 

 

The typical sheltered homeless veteran has the following characteristics: 

	 Male (93 percent), 

	 White non-Hispanic/Latino (49 percent), 

	 Between the ages of 31 and 50 (45 percent), and 

	 Disabled (52 percent). 

Gender—Similar to the gender composition of the total veteran population, women make up a small 

share of the sheltered veteran population. In 2009, only 8 percent of sheltered homeless veterans 

were female. However, the proportion of women among the total veteran population has increased 

steadily between 2000 and 20099 —from about 6 to 8 percent—and the proportion of female 

veterans among the sheltered homeless population is likely to increase in the coming years. 

Race and Ethnicity—The racial and ethnic composition of sheltered homeless veterans differs 

considerably from that of all veterans and all U.S. adults. In 2009, minority groups were 

overrepresented among the sheltered veteran population. Approximately 34 percent of sheltered 

veterans were African American, and 11 percent were Hispanic/Latino. By contrast, African 

Americans represent only 11 percent of the total veteran population and 12 percent of all U.S. adults. 

Hispanic/Latinos comprise only 5 percent of all veterans, although they are a higher proportion of all 

U.S. adults. Other minority groups were also overrepresented among the sheltered veteran 

population. American Indian or Alaska Native veterans account for less than 1 percent of all 

veterans but 3 percent of sheltered veterans. 

Conversely, the white non-Hispanic/Latino population is underrepresented among the sheltered 

veteran population, as this group accounts for 81 percent of the total veteran population and only 49 

percent of the sheltered veteran population. 

Age—Most sheltered homeless veterans (45 percent) are between 31 and 50 years of age. This age 

group is overrepresented in the homeless population when compared to the total veteran population 

(23 percent) and all U.S. adults (37 percent). Veterans between 51 and 61 years of age are also 

overrepresented in the sheltered population compared to these other groups. Younger veterans, 18 to 

30, were in approximate proportion to their share of the overall veteran population. 

3.2 Homeless Veterans by Household Type 

The demographic profile of sheltered homeless veterans varies depending on the veteran’s household 

type (see Exhibit 3-2 and 3-3). Household type refers to the composition of a veteran’s household, 

and this report uses two categories of household types: 

 Individuals refers to veterans who experience homelessness alone; and 

 Persons in families refer to veterans who become homeless with at least one minor child (age 

17 or under). 

9	 VetPop 2007, National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, Department of Veterans Affairs, 

http://www1.va.gov/vetdata/ 

10 Section 3: Who Are Sheltered Veterans? 
Veterans are by and large individuals, meaning that most veterans experience homeless alone rather 

than as part of families. Thus the characteristics of sheltered individual veterans largely mirror those 

of all sheltered veterans. The small number of veterans in families are more likely to be women (59 

percent), African-American (47 percent), young adults under age 30 (38 percent), and not disabled 

(83 percent). 

Exhibit 3-2: Demographic Characteristics of Sheltered Homeless Veterans and NonVeterans, 2009 

Sheltered Veterans Sheltered Non-Veterans 

Characteristics 

All 

Veterans 

Individual 

Veterans 

Veterans in 

Families1 

All NonVeterans 

Individual 

Non-Veteran 

Adults 

Non-Veteran 

Adults in 

families2 

Number3 136,334 132,160 5,091 1,422,583 902,499 530,356 

Gender 

Female 7.5% 5.6% 58.7% 40.0% 30.6% 80.2% 

Male 92.5% 94.5% 41.3% 60.0% 69.4% 19.8% 

Ethnicity 

Non–Hispanic/non–Latino 88.9% 89.0% 87.9% 79.7% 83.1% 74.1% 

Hispanic/Latino 11.1% 11.1% 12.1% 20.3% 16.9% 25.9% 

Race 

White, non– 

Hispanic/non–Latino 49.2% 49.6% 39.7% 36.9% 44.7% 23.4% 

White, Hispanic/Latino 8.3% 8.3% 5.1% 11.9% 10.7% 14.0% 

Black or African American 34.0% 33.4% 47.0% 39.2% 34.3% 47.9% 

Asian 0.3% 0.3% 0.6% 0.8% 0.7% 0.8% 

American Indian or 

Alaska Native 3.4% 3.5% 1.2% 3.2% 2.7% 4.1% 

Native Hawaiian or other 

Pacific Islander 0.4% 0.4% 1.3% 0.7% 0.3% 1.3% 

Other/Several races 4.4% 4.4% 5.3% 7.3% 6.7% 8.5% 

Age 

18 to 30 8.4% 7.2% 38.0% 31.2% 25.5% 55.6% 

31 to 50 44.6% 44.5% 48.1% 49.8% 51.8% 41.4% 

51 to 61 38.1% 39.1% 12.9% 16.0% 19.2% 2.7% 

62 and older 8.9% 9.2% 1.0% 2.9% 3.5% 0.3% 

Disability Status 

Yes 51.9% 53.3% 16.8% 35.9% 41.2% 13.9% 

No 48.1% 46.7% 83.3% 64.1% 58.8% 86.1% 1 In the AHAR, a family is defined as a household composed of at least one adult and one child. The household status of a 

veteran is determined when the veteran enters an emergency shelter or transitional housing program during the 12-month 

reporting period. The estimate of veterans in families may be an undercount if veterans access shelter as individuals but 

have family members living elsewhere, for example, with family or friends. 2 The demographic characteristics for non-veterans in families are limited to adults only, except for ethnicity and race. 

Information on ethnicity and race are not reported separately to the AHAR for adults and children. 3 For both sheltered veterans and sheltered non-veterans, the sum of individuals and persons in families may not equal the 

total number of people in each category because some people were served as both individuals and as members of families. 

The total number of people in each category is an unduplicated count. 

Sources: Homeless Management Information System data, 2009. 

Section 3: Who Are Sheltered Veterans? 11 
However, veterans in homeless families are also quite different from non-veterans in homeless 

families. Only 59 percent of veterans in families are women, whereas women comprise 80 percent 

of non-veteran adults in families (Exhibit 3-2). Homeless veteran families are headed more 

frequently by two parents than homeless non-veteran families. Most adult men in homeless families 

are accompanied by adult women. Also, homeless veterans in families tend to be older than nonveteran adults in families, with a smaller proportion under 30 years (38 percent compared to 56 

percent) and a larger proportion over 51 years (14 percent compared to 3 percent). 

3.3 Sheltered Homeless Veterans Compared to Sheltered Homeless Non-Veterans 

Exhibit 3-2 shows several other ways in which homeless veterans are markedly different from their nonveteran counterparts in shelter. Across household types, sheltered veterans are much more likely to be 

male, white non-Hispanic/Latino, and disabled when compared to sheltered non-veterans. 

Exhibit 3-3: Demographic Characteristics of a Typical Sheltered Veteran, 2009 

The Typical Sheltered 

Veteran is: 

The Typical Sheltered 

Individual Veteran is: 

The Typical Sheltered 

Veteran in a Family is: 

 Male (93 percent) 

 Equally likely to be minority or 

white, non-Hispanic/Latino (51 

and 49 percent) 

 Between 31 and 50 (45 percent) 

 Disabled (52 percent) 

 Male (95 percent) 

 Equally likely to be minority or 

white, non-Hispanic/Latino (50 

percent each) 

 Between 31 and 50 (45 percent) 

 Disabled (53 percent) 

 Female (59 percent) 

 African American (47 percent) 

 Between 31 and 50 (48 percent) 

 Not disabled (83 percent) 

The age differences between homeless veterans and non-veterans are especially striking, as shown in 

Exhibit 3-4. While both homeless individual veterans and individual non-veterans are likely to be in 

their middle years, homeless veterans are disproportionately older than their non-veteran counterparts: 

 7 percent of homeless veterans are 30 years or younger compared with 26 percent of homeless 

non-veterans. 

 39 percent of homeless veterans are 51–61 years compared with 19 percent of homeless nonveterans. 

 9 percent of homeless veterans are 62 years and older compared with 4 percent of homeless nonveterans. 

12 Section 3: Who Are Sheltered Veterans? 
Exhibit 3-4: Age Distribution of Sheltered Homeless Individual 

Veteran and Non-Veteran Adults 

25.5% 

51.8% 

19.2% 

3.5% 

7.2% 

39.1% 

9.2% 

44.5% 

0.0% 

10.0% 

20.0% 

30.0% 

40.0% 

50.0% 

60.0% 

30 years and 

younger 

31-50 years 51-61 years 62 years and 

older 

Non-Veteran Veteran 

Section 3: Who Are Sheltered Veterans? 13 

Section 4: Risk of Homelessness Among Veterans 

This section builds on the discussion of how homeless veterans differ from other sheltered homeless 

adults and uses comparisons of the rates of homelessness among various groups of veterans and nonveterans to explore whether some types of veterans are at especially great risk of becoming 

homeless. Because there are so few veterans who experience homelessness as members of families, 

most comparisons are made between veterans who are homeless as individuals and other homeless 

and non-homeless individual adults. Also, because almost all people who become homeless have 

incomes below the poverty line, the comparisons described in this section often are made among 

veterans and other subpopulations that are poor. Other comparisons include gender, race/ethnicity, 

age, and disability as risk factors. 

Rates of homelessness among veterans are compared with the rates of four populations: 

 All adults in the U.S. This comparison suggests whether veterans are over or underrepresented in 

the homeless adult population compared to the total U.S. adult population. 

 Adults living in poverty. This comparison indicates whether veterans are over or 

underrepresented in the homeless adult population compared to other poor adults. 

 Adult non-veterans. This comparison suggests whether veterans are more or less likely than 

non-veterans to be homeless. 

 Non-veterans living in poverty. This comparison suggests whether veterans are more or less 

likely than other poor people who are not veterans to be homeless. 

Risk ratios are used to make these comparisons and suggest whether particular types of veterans are 

at greater risk of becoming homeless when compared to adults in other populations. Risk ratios 

divide the proportion of the homeless population that is veteran by the proportion of the comparison 

population that is veteran. Other risk ratios divide the proportion of the veteran population that is 

homeless by the proportion of the comparison population that is homeless. 

A ratio of 1.0 indicates that the subgroup of veterans is just as likely to be homeless as the 

comparison population. A risk ratio that is greater than one suggests that veterans are at higher risk 

of homelessness; less than one indicates that veterans are at lower risk. For example, 17 percent of 

individual sheltered men are veterans, and 24 percent of men in the total U.S. population are 

veterans. The risk ratio is 17/24 or 0.7, meaning that male veterans are not at high risk of becoming 

homeless. However, if the comparison group changes to focus on adults in poverty, only 14.7 

percent of poor men are veterans. The risk ratio is 17/14.7 or 1.2, meaning that male veterans living 

in poverty are at somewhat higher risk of becoming homeless than other poor individual men. 

Appendix C provides the detailed information used to calculate the risk ratios. 

4.1 Gender as a Risk Factor 

As described earlier, very few homeless veterans are women. However, women who are veterans 

are at much higher risk of homelessness than their male counterparts. Among individuals (Exhibit 4-

1, top panel): 

Section 4: Risk of Homelessness Among Veterans 15 
 

 Female veterans are twice as likely to be in the homeless population as they are to be the U.S. 

adult female population. 

 They are almost three (2.7) times more likely to be in the homeless population than in the 

female poverty population. 

 Female veterans are also more likely to be homeless when compared to female non-veterans 

in the U.S. and female non-veterans in the poverty population. 

By contrast, individual male veterans are underrepresented in the homeless population when 

compared to the U.S. adult population and the non-veteran population. Male veterans are slightly 

overrepresented in the homeless population when compared to veterans and non-veterans living in 

poverty. 

Exhibit 4-1: Risk Ratio of Homelessness Among Veterans, by Household and Gender1 

Gender 

Female 

Male 

Female 

Male 

Compared to the 

Adult U.S. 

Population 

2.0 

0.7 

1.3 

0.5 

Compared to 

Adults Living in 

Poverty 

Individ

2.7 

1.2 

Persons in 

2.1 

0.8 

Compared to NonVeteran Adults in the 

U.S. Population 

uals 

2.0 

0.6 

Families 

1.3 

0.4 

Compared to NonVeteran Adults Living 

in Poverty 

2.7 

1.2 

2.1 

0.8 1	 Two types of risk ratios are used: (1) the proportion of the homeless population that is veteran in relation to the 

proportion of the comparison population that is veteran; and (2) the proportion of the veteran population that is 

homeless in relation to the proportion of the non-veteran comparison population that is homeless. Four comparison 

populations are presented in the exhibit: adults in the U.S. population; adults living in poverty; non-veteran adults in 

the U.S. population; and non-veteran adults living in poverty. 

Source: Homeless Management Information System, 2010. U.S. Census Bureau. (2009). 2006-2008 American 

Community Survey 3-Year Estimates. 

The bottom panel of Exhibit 4-1 presents the risks of homelessness among veterans in families when 

measured against the same comparison groups. Like their individual counterparts, female veterans 

in families are at higher risk of becoming homeless when compared to adult women in these four 

subpopulations. In stark contrast, male veterans in families are underrepresented in the homeless 

population when compared to any of the comparison populations. 

4.2 Race and Ethnicity as Risk Factors 

Exhibit 4-2 uses the risk ratios to confirm the point made earlier (see Exhibit 3-1) that rates of 

homelessness are much higher for Hispanics, African Americans, and Native Americans than for veterans 

who are not members of minority groups, particularly among veterans who are living in poverty. 

Hispanic veterans are at particularly high risk of becoming homeless. Among individuals: 

	 Hispanic veterans are three times more likely to be in the homeless population than among 

non-veteran adults in poverty. 

16 Section 4: Risk of Homelessness Among Veterans 
 

	 They are almost three (2.8) times more likely to be in the homeless population than in the 

total poverty population. 

	 Hispanic veterans are nearly twice as likely to be in the homeless population as the total U.S. 

population (1.6) and all non-veteran adults in poverty (1.7). 

Exhibit 4-2: Risk of Homelessness among Veterans who are Homeless as Individual Adults, 

by Ethnicity and Race1 

Ethnicity and Race 

Non-Hispanic/non-Latino 

Hispanic/Latino 

White 

Black or African American 

Asian 

American Indian or Alaska Native 

Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 

Other 

Compared to 

the Adult U.S. 

Population 

Et

1.0 

1.6 

1.2 

1.2 

1.8 

1.3 

1.4 

0.6 

Compared to 

Adults Living in 

Poverty 

hnicity 

1.8 

2.8 

Race 

2.0 

1.8 

3.6 

2.1 

2.5 

0.9 

Compared to 

Non-Veteran 

Adults in the 

U.S. Population 

1.0 

1.7 

0.2 

0.9 

0.1 

1.6 

1.5 

0.6 

Compared to 

Non-Veteran 

Adults Living in 

Poverty 

1.9 

3.0 

0.8 

1.6 

0.2 

2.1 

2.7 

0.9 1	 Two types of risk ratios are used: (1) the proportion of the homeless population that is veteran in relation to the 

proportion of the comparison population that is veteran; and (2) the proportion of the veteran population that is 

homeless in relation to the proportion of the non-veteran comparison population that is homeless. Four comparison 

populations are presented in the exhibit: adults in the U.S. population; adults living in poverty; non-veteran adults 

in the U.S. population; and non-veteran adults living in poverty. 

Source: Homeless Management Information System, 2010. U.S. Census Bureau. (2009). 2006-2008 American 

Community Survey 3-Year Estimates. 

Indeed, almost a quarter of poor Hispanic veterans living alone used shelter at some time during the 

year, compared with 12 percent of poor non-Hispanic veterans and 8 percent of poor white nonHispanics. 

Similarly, about 24 percent of African American individual veterans with incomes below the poverty 

line were homeless at some point during 2009, as were 35 percent of American Indian and Alaska 

Native veterans living alone and in poverty. 

 African Americans were 1.8 times as likely to be in the homeless population than in the 

poverty population. 

 African Americans were 1.6 times as likely to be homeless than to be a non-veteran living in 

poverty. 

 African Americans were less likely to be homeless than their non-veteran counterparts in the 

U.S. adult population. 

 American Indians and Alaska Natives were 2.1 times more likely to be in the homeless 

population than in the population living in poverty. 

 American Indians and Alaska Natives were also overrepresented in the homeless population 

compared to the general population and the non-veteran adult population (1.3 and 1.6). 

Section 4: Risk of Homelessness Among Veterans 17 
 

 

 

 

The risk ratios for veterans in families across all racial and ethnic groups are much lower and, for the 

most part, do not differ among racial and ethnic groups. Being part of a family, even a poor family, 

appears to be a strong protection against becoming homeless.10 

4.3 Age as a Risk Factor 

While veterans are more likely than non-veterans to be in the older age categories (see Exhibit 3-3), 

that fact largely mirrors the age distribution of veterans. As Exhibit 4-3 indicates, veterans between 

the ages of 18 and 30 are almost twice as likely (1.8) to be homeless than to be in the U.S. adult 

population. The risk of homelessness increases considerably when young veterans are poor. Young 

homeless individuals are three times more likely to be veterans than poor young adults are to be 

veterans. Similarly, young veterans are three times more likely to be homeless than young nonveteran adults living in poverty. 

Exhibit 4-3: Risk of Homelessness among Veterans who are Homeless as 

Individual Adults, by Age1 

Age 

Compared to the 

Adult U.S. 

Population 

Compared to 

Adults Living in 

Poverty 

Compared to 

Non-Veteran 

Adults in the 

U.S. Population 

Compared to 

Non-Veteran 

Adults Living in 

Poverty 

18–30 years 1.8 3.3 1.9 3.4 

31–50 years 1.6 1.9 1.7 2.1 

51–61 years 1.6 2.1 1.8 2.4 

62 years and older 1.2 2.3 1.3 2.8 1 Two types of risk ratios are used: (1) the proportion of the homeless population that is veteran in 

relation to the proportion of the comparison population that is veteran; and (2) the proportion of the 

veteran population that is homeless in relation to the proportion of the non-veteran comparison 

population that is homeless. Four comparison populations are presented in the exhibit: adults in the 

U.S. population; adults living in poverty; non-veteran adults in the U.S. population; and non-veteran 

adults living in poverty. 

Source: Homeless Management Information System, 2010. U.S. Census Bureau. (2009). 2006-2008 

American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates. 

While relatively few homeless veterans are in the youngest age category, this is a particularly 

interesting cohort as it is likely comprised of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation 

Enduring Freedom. During 2009, more than 11,300 younger veterans used a shelter. The small 

absolute number of young homeless veterans may reflect supports available for veterans as they exit 

these war zones. However, although the proportion of homeless veterans in the youngest age group 

is lower compared with non-veteran homeless adults, the risk ratios show that their risk for 

homelessness is high. Furthermore, the typical time lag between becoming a veteran and 

experiencing homelessness is unclear. The current cohort of new veterans may experience even 

higher rates of homelessness in the future. 

The exception seems to be Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, but this is a very small group. Comparisons to the 

race and ethnicity of the overall population of veterans and non-veterans in families must be interpreted with some 

caution, as the HMIS data on which the estimates of sheltered homeless families are based do not distinguish the 

race/ethnicity of adults from that of children. 

18 Section 4: Risk of Homelessness Among Veterans 

10 
4.4 Disability as a Risk Factor 

Taken as a single group, homeless veterans are considerably more likely to have a disability than 

homeless adults who are not veterans. About 53 percent of individual homeless veterans have 

disabilities, compared with 41 percent of sheltered homeless non-veteran individuals. However, 

these results are not adjusted to account for the higher average age of the homeless veteran 

population compared to the general homeless population. Veterans in families are also slightly more 

likely to have a disability than non-veterans in families: 17 percent compared to 14 percent. 

Risk ratios were not calculated among veterans who have disabilities, because the definition of 

disability used in the HMIS includes substance abuse (as well as mental illness and physical 

disabilities), and that differs from the data from the Census used to create the risk ratios. 

Section 4: Risk of Homelessness Among Veterans 19 

Section 5: Where are Homeless Veterans Located? 

This section describes the spatial distribution of homeless veterans. The section uses PIT data to 

provide estimates of veteran homelessness by state, and HMIS data to provide estimates across types 

of sub-geographies (urban, suburban, and rural). Appendix D provides information on the estimated 

number of veterans on a single night in January 2009 by state. 

5.1 PIT Estimates of Veteran Homelessness by State 

Homeless veterans are found in all states. Most states had less than one percent of the total homeless 

veteran population on a single night in January 2009. Delaware, Maine, Rhode Island, South Dakota, 

Vermont, Wyoming, and Utah combined have about one percent of the nation’s homeless veteran 

population. By contrast, one-half of homeless veterans on a single night are located in just four states: 

California (26 percent), Florida (9 percent), New York (8 percent), and Texas (7 percent). These four 

states have a similar combined share of all sheltered homeless people (45 percent), but only 28 percent of 

the total veteran population nationwide. Exhibit 5-1 displays the distribution of homeless veterans by state 

(top map) and the share of each state’s total PIT count of homeless persons that are veterans (bottom map). 

Exhibit 5-1: The Distribution and Share of Homeless Veterans by State, 2009 

Distribution of Homeless Veterans on the Night of the PIT Count (N = 75,609) 

ID

0.4%

AZ

3.1%

UT

0.2%

MT

0.3%

WY

0.2%

NM

CO

1.9%

AL

FL

SC

TN

KY

IN

OH

NC

SD

0.2%

KS

NE

0.4%

MN

WI

IA

IL

MO

AR

0.3%

MS

OK

ND

0.2%

OR

NV

WA

2.6%

TX

AK

0.3%

PA

ME

VA

NY

CT

WV

0.4%

MD

NJ

VT

MA

DE

RI

0.2%

HI

LA

MI

GA

3.7%

0.1%

0.1%

0.2%

NH 0.2%

0.5%

0.6%

CA

25.9%

1.4%

7.3%

9.5%

7.8%

1.4%

0.8%

1.8%

1.7%

1.9%

2.5%

3.5%

1.5%

1.0%

0.8%

1.5%

0.9%

1.2%%

0.9%

2.6%

0.7%

0.8%

DC

0.9%

1.4%

0.5%

0.6%

0.4%

0.8%

0.4% or less 

0.5% - 0.9% 

1% - 1.9% 

2% or greater 

Distribution of Homeless Vets 

1.3%

0.7%

Section 5: Where are Homeless Veterans Located? 21 
Share of the PIT Count of Homeless Persons that are Veterans 

Overrepresentation of veterans among the 

homeless population occurs in all regions of the 

country. Veterans represent about 9 percent of 

Exhibit 5-2: Representation of Veterans in the 

Homeless and the U.S. Populations 

in 2009, by Region 

U.S. Region 

Percent of Total 

PIT Estimate of 

the Homeless 

Population 

Percent of U.S. 

Population 

Northeast 9.3% 6.8% 

Midwest 9.5% 7.7% 

South 12.7% 8.2% 

West 13.2% 7.2% 

the total PIT estimate of homeless persons in 

both the Northeast and Midwest regions, but 

they represent only 7 to 8 percent of total 

population in these regions (see Exhibit 5-2). 

In the South and West regions, veterans 

constitute about 13 percent of the total 

homeless population, but only 7 to 8 percent of 

the total population in these regions. 

At the state-level, veterans are overrepresented 

Source: Continuum of Care Point-in-Time Counts, January 2009 in the total homeless population in 37 states. 

On a single night in January 2009, the states 

with the highest estimated share of veterans among their total homeless populations were Kansas (34 

percent), North Dakota (22 percent), South Dakota (23 percent), and Wyoming (22 percent). In 

these same states, veterans make up a relatively small share of the total population (8, 8, 10, and 9 

percent, respectively). 

States with an underrepresentation of veterans in their homeless population when compared to their 

share of the total populations are: Arkansas, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, 

Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. 

22 Section 5: Where are Homeless Veterans Located? 
 

 

5.2 Location of Homeless Veterans – Principal Cities and Suburban or Rural Areas 

While homelessness occurs in all types of jurisdictions—urban, suburban and rural areas—most of 

the sheltered homeless population is located in the densest urban areas, principal cities.11 In 2009, 

more than two-thirds (68 percent) of non-veteran sheltered homeless adults were accessing 

residential services in principal cities. The remaining 32 percent were in suburban or rural areas. 

For sheltered veterans, the proportion located in principal cities was even higher. About 72 percent 

of sheltered veterans were in principal cities, and approximately 28 percent were in suburban or rural 

areas. This distribution was decidedly different than that of the total population and the total veteran 

population in 2009 (see Exhibit 5-3). 

Exhibit 5-3: Geographic Distribution of Sheltered Homeless Veterans 

Source: Homeless Management Information System data, 2009 and U.S Census Bureau, 2009 

The variations between sheltered veterans and sheltered non-veterans by location largely mirror the 

differences in characteristics of the two populations discussed in the previous sections of this report, 

as shown in (see Exhibit 5-4). However, in principal cities veterans were more likely to identify 

ethnically as Hispanic/Latino and racially as African American than they were in suburban or rural 

areas. Sheltered veterans in principal cities were also more likely to be local compared to those in 

suburban or rural areas—that is, they were more likely to report a last permanent zip code in the 

same jurisdiction as where they first accessed residential services in the 12-month reporting period. 

11	 The largest city in each metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area is designated a principal city, and other cities 

may qualify if specified requirements (population size and employment) are met. 

Section 5: Where are Homeless Veterans Located? 23 
Exhibit 5-4: Demographic Differences between Sheltered Homeless Veterans and 

Non-Veterans by Location Type 

In Principal Cities In Suburban or Rural Areas 

 Veterans were more likely to be white than nonveterans—44 percent compared to 32 percent.  A considerable majority of veterans were white – 

64 percent compared to 46 percent. 

 37 percent of veterans were African American 

compared to 42 percent of sheltered nonveterans. 

 27 percent of veterans were African American 

compared to 33 percent of sheltered nonveterans. 

 14 percent of sheltered veterans were 

Hispanic/Latino compared to 23 percent of nonveterans. 

 4 percent of sheltered veterans were 

Hispanic/Latino compared to 15 percent for nonveterans. 

 Veterans had a higher incidence of disability: 50 

percent compared to 32 percent. 

 Veterans had a higher incidence of disability: 57 

percent compared to 47 percent. 

 More veterans than non-veterans came from 

another jurisdiction: 39 percent compared to 31 

percent. 

 More veterans than non-veterans came from 

another jurisdiction: 53 percent compared to 45 

percent. 

Source: Homeless Management Information System data 

24 Section 5: Where are Homeless Veterans Located? 
 

Section 6: How do Veterans Access and Use the Shelter System? 

This section describes both how veterans move into the residential service system and how veterans 

use the system once they access it. This section discusses the prior living arrangements of homeless 

veterans, which residential services they used, and for how long they used them. 

6.1 Movement into the Shelter System 

Information on where sheltered veterans stayed the night before entering emergency shelter or 

transitional housing maps various pathways into the homeless residential system. This information 

is based on HMIS data and corresponds to each person’s first entry into the shelter system during 

this report’s 12-month reporting period. By identifying the various points of entry, this information 

can help suggest early points of intervention for homeless veterans. 

In 2009, the most common prior living situation among sheltered veterans was homelessness. That 

is, 46 percent of veterans who entered shelter during the reporting period came from another shelter 

or other homeless situation, such as the streets (Exhibit 6-1). Among those veterans who were 

already homeless (not shown in the exhibit), nearly even percentages came from another emergency 

shelter (47 percent) and from an unsheltered location (46 percent). Only 7 percent came from 

transitional housing. 

Approximately one-third (32 percent) of sheltered veterans were housed before accessing residential 

services. Among all those who were housed, 40 percent were in a housing unit of their own, 33 

percent were staying with a family member, and the remaining 25 percent were doubled up with 

friends. 

Homeless veterans appear to be more socially isolated than the general homeless population, with 

weaker family and social support systems. Their entry into shelter reflects this isolation. Veterans 

were less likely than non-veterans to have come from housing—either their own unit or that of a 

friend or family member. Approximately 32 percent of veterans came from housing compared to 42 

percent of non-veterans. Of those who did come from housing, veterans were more likely than nonveterans to come from their own unit (40 percent compared to 26 percent) and less likely to have 

been doubled up with friends or family: 58 percent compared to 73 percent for non-veterans. The 

VA’s most recent published CHALENG report identifies concerns around unmet family needs that 

may support this finding.12 

Among the remaining sheltered veterans who did not spend the previous night in housing or in 

another homeless situation, just more than 14 percent entered shelter from an institutional setting 

(hospitals, jails, prison, psychiatric facilities, or substance abuse settings), and 8 percent came from 

some other situation including hotels and motels. 

12 The Sixteenth Annual CHALENG report surveyed 16,512 providers and consumers (10,701 consumers who 

responded were homeless and formerly homeless veterans) and found that that out of 42 listed needs categories, 3 of 

the top 5 “unmet” needs relate to family concerns that may fuel social isolation. The top 5 unmet needs in order 

were child care, legal assistance for child support issues, legal assistance for outstanding warrants/fines, long-term 

permanent housing, and family reconciliation. 

Section 6: How do Veterans Access and Use the Shelter System? 25 
 

 

Exhibit 6-1: Previous Living Situation of People Using Residential Services by Household 

Type, 2009 

All Persons Adult Individuals Adults in Families 

Living Arrangement 

Already Homeless 

Sheltered 

Veteran 

46.2% 

Sheltered 

NonVeteran 

37.4% 

Sheltered 

Veteran 

46.9% 

Sheltered 

Non-Veteran 

40.1% 

Sheltered 

Veteran 

29.0% 

Sheltered 

Non-Veteran 

25.9% 

Housing Situation 31.8% 42.3% 30.9% 37.5% 58.1% 62.7% 

Institutional Settings 14.2% 12.2% 14.7% 14.5% 0.7% 2.7% 

Other Situations 7.7% 8.1% 7.5% 7.9% 12.1% 8.7 

Source: Homeless Management Information Systems, 2009. 

Sheltered veterans in families were much less likely than individual veterans to be already homeless 

(29 versus 47 percent) or coming from an institutional setting (0.7 versus 15 percent). Instead, 

sheltered veterans in families were much more likely to be in a housing situation than individual 

veterans (58 versus 31 percent). 

6.2 Patterns of Shelter Use 

Analysis of data for all sheltered homeless people has shown that a linear progression through the 

system (entering through emergency shelter, moving on to transitional housing, then to permanent 

housing) is not as common as had once been assumed.13 Estimates for sheltered veterans reveal a 

similarly non-linear pattern of homeless service use. 

More than 3 out of 4 homeless veterans used 

only emergency shelter in 2009, about 1 in 5 

used only transitional housing services, and 5 

percent used some combination of both (see 

Exhibit 6-2). 

These estimates provide information on the use 

of emergency shelter and transitional housing 

during a 12-month period only, and thus do not 

account for all potential movement by veterans 

into, out of, or within the homeless residential 

system. However, as noted earlier, a significant 

share of homeless veterans entered the shelter 

system from some other homeless situation (42 Source: Homeless Management Information System data, 2009 percent of those in emergency shelter and 45 

percent of those in transitional housing), which indicates that veterans do cycle in and out of 

emergency shelters and transitional housing. 

13 Department of Housing and Urban Development, “Annual Homeless Assessment Report”, 2007, 2008, and 2009. 

Emergency Shelter 

Only 

76.4% 

Transitional 

Housing Only 

18.9% 

Both Emergency 

Shelters and 

Transitional 

Housing 

4.8% 

Exhibit 6-2: Type of Program Used Among 

All Sheltered Veterans, 2009 

26 Section 6: How do Veterans Access and Use the Shelter System? 
 

 

Service use patterns varied considerably by household type. Again, because most homeless veterans 

were individuals, the individual use of residential homeless programs looks similar to that of all 

veterans. About 77 percent of homeless individual veterans used an emergency shelter only in 2009. 

Veterans in families had a much higher percentage of people using transitional housing exclusively 

(30 percent compared to 18 percent), and a lower percentage of emergency shelter use alone (65 

percent compared to 77 percent). 

6.3 Length of Stay 

The estimates of a veteran’s total length of stay in the shelter system represent the cumulative 

amount of time spent in these programs during the 12-month reporting period. This means that, if a 

veteran entered emergency shelter twice, for example, and stayed five nights each time, then that 

veteran experienced 10 nights in emergency shelter. The estimated length of stay does not account 

for time spent in shelter before or after the reporting period. 

Exhibit 6-3: Length of Stay in the Shelter System between October 1, 2008 and 

September 30, 2009 

35.0% 

30.0% 

25.0% 

20.0% 

15.0% 

10.0% 

5.0% 

0.0% 

Veterans in 

Emergency 

Shelter 

Veterans in Transitional 

Housing 

One week or 1 wk-1month 1-3 months 3-6 months 6-9 months 9 months- 1yr 1 year 

less 

Length of Stay 

Over the course of a year, most sheltered homeless people experience only brief periods of sheltered 

homelessness14—this is true for veterans as well. As shown in Exhibit 6-3, during the 12-month 

reporting period, 33 percent of veterans experiencing homelessness stayed in emergency shelter for 

less than one week, 61 percent stayed less than one month, and more than 84 percent veterans stayed 

in emergency shelter for less than 3 months. The number of homeless veterans who stay in 

emergency shelter drops rapidly after about 3 months. 

14	 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 2007, 2008 and 2009 Annual Homeless Assessment Report. 

Washington, D.C. 

Section 6: How do Veterans Access and Use the Shelter System? 27 
 

As expected, the length of stay among veterans in transitional housing is much different as 

transitional housing is designed to serve people for longer periods of time than emergency shelter. 

About 23 percent sheltered veterans spent between 3 and 6 months in transitional housing, the most 

common pattern. During the 12-month reporting period, about half (46 percent) of veterans spent 

between 1 and 6 months, and 61 percent spent between 1 and 9 months in transitional housing. 

Veterans who were homeless alone spent more time in shelters than their non-veteran counterparts 

(Exhibit 6-4). On average (median), sheltered veterans spent 21 days in emergency shelters and 117 

days in transitional housing, compared to 17 and 106 days for non-veterans. But service use patterns 

are significantly different for veterans in homeless families. Among families, sheltered non-veterans 

stayed for longer periods of time in both emergency shelters and transitional housing than veterans 

in families. For example, sheltered non-veterans stayed in transitional housing for about 175 days, 

which is 38 days longer than veterans in homeless families. 

Exhibit 6-4: Median Length of Stay (in Days) by Household Type, 2009 

All Persons Adult Individuals Adults in Families 

Living Arrangement 

Emergency Shelter 

Sheltered 

Veteran 

22 

Sheltered 

NonVeteran 

22 

Sheltered 

Veteran 

21 

Sheltered 

Non-Veteran 

17 

Sheltered 

Veteran 

30 

Sheltered 

Non-Veteran 

36 

Transitional Housing 120 135 117 106 137 175 

Source: Homeless Management Information Systems, 2009. 

28 Section 6: How do Veterans Access and Use the Shelter System? 
 

Section 7: Concluding Observations 

This report, Veteran Homelessness: A Supplemental Report to the 2009 Annual Homeless 

Assessment Report to Congress, makes important progress toward one of the primary goals 

established by the 2010 Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. This first 

supplemental AHAR report on veterans presents baseline estimates of the prevalence of veteran 

homelessness, arrived at using improved data collection and estimation methods. These estimates, 

together with detailed information on demographics and patterns of shelter use, provide critically 

important information to support federal interagency collaboration to end homelessness among 

veterans. These baseline estimates will enable federal agencies to track changes in veteran 

homelessness over time, measure success, and determine the need for improvements in programs 

targeted to veteran homelessness. 

This report comes at a time when the U.S military is drawing down troops in Iraq and engaged in 

Afghanistan. The potential impacts of these engagements on veteran homelessness are of concern to 

policymakers, service providers, and the public. This report shows that a considerable number of 

younger veterans (18 to 30 years old) have already accessed shelter in 2009, a cohort that likely 

served during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Furthermore, comparing rates of homelessness for 

these younger veterans with their rates in the overall population—and comparing homelessness 

among younger veterans and non-veterans—shows that new veterans already are at particularly high 

risk of becoming homeless. This finding highlights the need to prevent homelessness among the 

nation’s youngest group of veterans by providing services to identify veterans at greatest risk of 

becoming homeless and by targeting housing assistance, vocational services, benefits, and treatment 

services to this at-risk population. 

Prevention and Rapid Rehousing for Veterans and Their Families 

Through a partnership with HUD, VA, and DOL, five communities that are geographical adjacent to 

the boundaries of military installations were selected for the Veterans Homelessness Prevention 

Demonstration (VHPD). The aim of this program will be to help with housing, economic instability, 

health and other supportive services which place veterans at high-risk of becoming homeless. HUD 

awarded $10 million for short- or medium-term rental assistance, including security deposits, utility 

payments and arrearages, and family services. The VA is providing $5 million for medical services 

and case management, and DOL is providing employment training and counseling. 

The VA recently announced a Notice of Funding Availability for approximately $50 million for the 

Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) Program. SSVF is patterned after HUD’s 

Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP) and will provide supportive 

services to very low-income veteran families transitioning to permanent housing. Funds will be 

granted to private non-profit organizations and consumer cooperatives to provide a range of 

supportive services designed to promote housing stability. Grantees may also provide time-limited 

payments to third parties (e.g., landlords, utility companies, moving companies, and licensed child 

care providers) if these payments help veterans and their families stay in or acquire permanent 

housing on a sustainable basis. Much like the overall homeless population, most veterans experience 

only brief periods of homelessness, suggesting that these prevention services could significantly 

reduce the number of veteran families that become homeless. Additionally, a rapid re-housing 

Section 7: Concluding Observations 29 
program for veterans who do become homeless will offer temporary rental assistance or a longerterm subsidy to place homeless veterans in permanent housing as quickly as possible, thereby 

limiting the disruptive impact of homelessness. 

Permanent Supportive Housing 

For the large percentage of veterans with disabilities, permanent supportive housing would be 

effective in helping them achieve long-term stability. The VA and HUD established the HUD-VA 

Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program specifically for veterans who need housing assistance 

as well as supportive services, such as case management, social support, and mental health services. 

Continued and expanded support of this program is necessary to end chronic homelessness among 

veterans. 

It is through these collaborative efforts and the diligent work of local service providers that homeless 

veterans will find permanent housing and the flow of veterans into the homelessness system will 

cease. Subsequent reports on veteran homelessness will certainly monitor changes in the number of 

homeless veterans and how they use the residential homelessness system. Indeed, both HUD and the 

VA intend to release future Veteran AHAR reports to improve the nation’s understanding of veteran 

homelessness and gauge progress on the nation’s goal to prevent and end homelessness in five years. 

30 Section 7: Concluding Observations 
References to Exhibit 1-1 

Burt M., Aron L., Lee E., Valente J., et al. 2001. Helping America’s Homeless: Emergency Shelter or 

Affordable Housing. Washington D.C.: The Urban Institute Press. 

Gamache G, Rosenheck R, and Tessler R. 2003. “Over-representation of Women Veterans among Homeless 

Women,” American Journal of Public Health, 93(7). 

2001. “The Proportion of Veterans among Homeless men: A Decade Later,” Social Psychiatry and 

Psychiatric Epidemiology, 36:481–485. 

O’Toole T, Conde-Martel A, Gibbon J, Hanusa B and Fine M. 2003. “Health Care of Homeless Veterans,” 

Journal of General Internal Medicine, 18:929–933. 

Robertson M. 1987. “Homeless Veterans: An Emerging Problem?” in The Homeless in Contemporary 

Society. Edited by Bingham, RD, Green RE, White, SB. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage. 

Rosenheck R and Fontana A. 1994. “A Model of Homelessness among Veterans of the Vietnam War 

Generation,” The American Journal of Psychiatry, 151(3). 

Rosenheck R, Frisman L, and Chung A. 1994. “The Proportion of Veterans among Homeless Men,” 

American Journal of Public Health, 84(3). 

Rosenheck R and Koegel P. 1993. “Characteristics of Veterans and Non-veterans in Three Samples of 

Homeless Men,” Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 44(9). 

Roth D. 1992. Homeless Veterans: Comparisons with Other Homeless Men,” in Homelessness: A National 

Perspective. Edited by Robertson MJ and Greenblatt M. New York City: Plenum. 

Schutt RA. 1986. “Short Report on Homeless Veterans: A Supplement to Homelessness in Boston in 1985: 

The View from Long Island.” Boston: University of MA. 

Tessler R, Rosenheck R, and Gamache G. 2002. “Comparisons of Homeless Veterans with Other Homeless 

Men in a Large Clinical Outreach Program,” Psychiatric Quarterly, 73(2). 

Washington MD, Yano E, McGuire J, Hines V, Lee M, and Gelber L. 2010. “Risk Factors for Homelessness 

among Women Veterans.” Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 21, 81–91. 

Winkleby M and Fleshin D. 1993. “Physical, Addictive and Psychiatric Disorders Among Homeless Veterans 

and Non-veterans.” Public Health Reports, 106(1). 

References 31 

Appendix A: Methodology 

Methodology for the One-Day Estimate of Homeless Veterans 

Every odd numbered year, HUD requires all Continuums of Care (CoCs) to conduct a thorough 

enumeration of all sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons and their characteristics on a single 

night in January. In 2009, CoCs were required to collect information on the veteran status of all 

sheltered adults but collecting this information for unsheltered adults was optional. In 2009, 452 

CoCs completed a PIT count. Overall, they counted 59,390 veterans, 36,224 of whom were 

sheltered and 23,166 were unsheltered. 

However, the researchers know that this figure underestimates the extent of homelessness among 

veterans for several reasons. First, many CoCs did not report any information on unsheltered 

veterans and a few did not report any information on sheltered veterans. Second, not all veterans 

staying in VA-funded homeless programs were included in the sheltered homeless counts. Finally, 

most CoCs used HMIS data to identify sheltered veterans and it is known that veteran status 

information is missing in many HMIS records. The data was adjusted to address each of these 

limitations. The final adjusted estimate is that there were 75,609 homeless veterans on a single night 

in January 2009, 43,409 of whom were sheltered and 32,200 were unsheltered. 

Step 1: Adjust for VA homeless programs not included in the PIT count 

The researchers compared the emergency shelter and transitional housing bed inventory that CoCs 

reported to HUD to the VA’s inventory of homeless residential beds and found that 5,836 beds for 

homeless veterans funded by the VA were not included in HUD’s housing inventory. It was 

assumed that because CoCs did not include these programs in their housing inventory they were also 

not included in the CoC’s sheltered count. To estimate the number of veterans that were sheltered in 

these programs on the night of the PIT count, the number of beds in each program was multiplied by 

that program’s average nightly occupancy rate. This estimate of sheltered veterans was then added 

to the reported sheltered veterans count for each CoC. Thus, for example if VA funded program Y 

had 100 emergency shelter beds that were not included in CoC Z’s HUD housing inventory, and 

these beds had an average occupancy rate of 80 percent, researchers added 80 sheltered veterans to 

CoC Z’s sheltered veterans count. In total, this adjustment added 4,852 sheltered homeless veterans, 

increasing the sheltered homeless count from 36,224 to 41,076. 

Step 2: Adjust for sheltered adults whose veteran status is unknown 

Two-thirds of CoCs used HMIS data to complete their sheltered homeless counts. The 2009 AHAR 

found that 5.4 percent of HMIS records for sheltered adults were missing information for the 

Veteran Status variable. It was assumed that similar missing rates would apply to the sheltered adult 

population from the PIT count. To adjust for sheltered adults whose veteran status was unknown, 

total number of sheltered adults in the PIT was estimated first. 

HUD does not ask CoCs to report separately on the number of adults and children who were 

homeless on the night of the PIT count. Instead, HUD asks CoCs to report the number of persons in 

households with dependent children and the number of persons in households with dependent 

Appendix A: Methodology A-1 
children who were homeless. To estimate the number of sheltered adults the researchers took the 

total number of persons in households without dependent children and subtracted the number of 

unaccompanied youth, and then assumed that each household with dependent children had only one 

adult, since this is true for most homeless families. Researchers added the number of adults in 

households with and without dependent children to get the total number of sheltered adults. The 

total number of sheltered adults in each CoC was then multiplied by .054 to find the total number of 

adults we assumed were missing information about their veteran status. The percent of sheltered 

adults who were veterans was determined by taking the sum of sheltered veterans and dividing it by 

the sum of adults minus the adults with missing veteran status. The CoC’s percentage of sheltered 

adults who are veterans was then applied to the number of adults whose veteran status is assumed 

missing. This adjustment added an additional 2,313 sheltered veterans bringing the total count to 

43,389. 

Step 3: Impute for CoCs that did not do a count of sheltered veterans 

Although all CoCs were required to collect information on the veteran status of their sheltered 

homeless population, three CoCs did not submit information on the number of sheltered veterans in 

their community. For these three CoCs, the number of sheltered veterans was imputed by taking the 

percentage of all sheltered adults who are veterans in all other CoCs and assuming that the same 

proportion of sheltered adults was veterans in these three CoCs. Overall, 16 percent of sheltered 

adults on the night of the PIT count were veterans. There were 127 total sheltered adults in the three 

CoCs that were missing a count of sheltered veterans, 127*.16 = 20 so the imputation added 20 

sheltered veterans giving a final sheltered veteran count of 43,409. 

Step 4: Impute for CoCs that did not do a count of unsheltered veterans 

There were 292 CoCs (65 percent) that did a count of unsheltered veterans in 2009, 73 CoCs 

(16 percent) reported having zero unsheltered veterans, and 87 CoCs (19 percent) did not report any 

information about unsheltered veterans. CoCs that reported no information on unsheltered veterans 

were treated the same as CoCs that reported zero unsheltered veterans the same and imputed an 

unsheltered veteran count for both. This was done because some of the CoCs that reported no 

unsheltered veterans were quite large making it unlikely that they actually had no unsheltered 

veterans. 

Researchers tried several different methods of imputing an unsheltered count of veterans for the 35 

percent of CoCs that reported either zero of missing information for unsheltered veterans. These 

methods were evaluated based on the assumptions about unsheltered veterans based on past research 

and by comparing the imputed unsheltered count with each method to the actual unsheltered count 

for the 65 percent of CoCs that did an unsheltered veterans count. The imputation method used the 

came closest to producing the same totals as the actual unsheltered counts. 

The imputation method that used takes the estimated percentage of sheltered individuals and adults 

in families in the CoC who were veterans and applies that percentage to the total number of 

unsheltered single adults and adults in families. Because CoCs did not report separately on the 

veteran status of single adults and adults in families researchers had to make assumptions based on 

other data. According to the 2009 AHAR, 13 percent of all single adults who used emergency 

A-2 Appendix A: Methodology 
 

 

shelter or transitional housing were veterans compared to 2 percent of persons in families. Thus, 

single adults were 6.5 times more likely to be veterans than adults in families: 

Thus, PA = 6.5*PF*WI + PF*WF 

Where: 

PI = Percent of sheltered individual adults that are veterans 

PF = Percent of sheltered adults in families that are veterans 

PA = Percent of all sheltered adults that are veterans 

WI = The percent of sheltered adults that are individuals 

WF = The percent of sheltered adults that are persons in families 

Because PA is known (see Step 2) we can use the following equation to solve for PF: 

PF = PA/(6.5*WI+WF) 

Once we solve for PF we can solve for PI because 

PI = PF*6.5 

Once we know PF and PI we impute the unsheltered veterans count: 

UV = UI*PI+UF*PF where 

UV = The number of unsheltered veterans 

UI = The number of unsheltered individual adults 

UF = The number of unsheltered adults in families 

So, for example if CoC X has 100 total sheltered adults, half of whom are individuals and half are in 

families, and 20 total sheltered veterans, then PA = 20/100=.2, PF = .2/(6.5*.5+.5) = .053 and PI = 

.053*6.5 = .347. If CoC X has 80 unsheltered individual adults and 20 unsheltered adults in families 

then it’s imputed unsheltered veterans count = (.053*20)+(.347*80)=29. 

The imputation for CoCs with missing or zero unsheltered veterans added 9,034 unsheltered veterans 

bringing the total unsheltered veteran count to 32,200. 

One-Year Estimate of Sheltered Homeless Veterans 

The 1-year estimate of veterans who stayed in emergency shelters or transitional housing for 

homeless persons is based on HMIS data provided by 300 CoCs. The HMIS data account for people 

using a homeless facility anytime from October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009. 

In 2009, the 300 participating communities submitted data with 36,039 unduplicated person records 

of veterans that used an emergency shelter or transitional housing during the 1-year period.15 The 

15 These records did not contain any personally identifying information. 

Appendix A: Methodology A-3 
 

 

data from these CoCs were weighted to produce estimates of sheltered homeless veterans in the 

nation. The procedures for weighting the data follow the same methodology described in 

Appendix B of the 2009 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress.

16 However, the 

estimated number of homeless veterans in this report differs from the AHAR because of two small 

adjustments made to improve the estimate of the sheltered homeless population that were veterans. 

The improved estimate in this report is 136,334 veterans, 8,700 more than the 127,634 reported in 

Appendix D of the AHAR. 

The two adjustments are as follows. 

Adjustment 1: Adjust for sheltered adults whose veteran status is unknown 

The 2009 AHAR found that 5.4 percent of HMIS records for sheltered adults were missing 

information for the Veteran Status variable. For this report, researchers assumed that the percent of 

veterans among the adults with missing veteran status was the same as among the adults with known 

veteran status. Nationally, 11.1 percent of sheltered homeless adults with known veteran status were 

identified as veterans. For this report, it was assumed 11.1 percent of adults with missing veteran 

status were veterans. This adjustment increased the estimated number of homeless veterans. 

Adjustment 2: Adjust for differences in veteran-only emergency shelter and transitional 

housing facilities participation in HMIS within communities 

To account for emergency shelters and transitional housing facilities that did not provide data to 

HMIS in participating communities, researchers imputed the number of persons who used these 

beds. In the AHAR, it was assumed that the non-HMIS participating beds served the same number 

of homeless people per-bed, per-year as the HMIS participating beds. This adjustment was done 

separately for the four program-household types (i.e., emergency shelters for individuals, emergency 

shelters for families, transitional housing for individuals, and transitional housing for families) and 

made an adjustment to account for the small number of people who used both a participating and 

non-participating provider to ensure people were not double counted. (This methodology is 

described in Appendix B of the 2009 AHAR.) For the estimate of veterans, the method was refined 

by making this adjustment separately for veteran-only and general beds in each of the four 

household-program type categories. 

For non-participating beds that served veterans only, researchers used the persons' per-bed, per-year 

estimate for the program-household type of all participating providers to estimate the number of 

veterans served in the year. For the non-participating providers that served the general population, 

researchers used a veterans' per-bed, per-year measure to impute the number of veterans using these 

16 Even though the research team followed the same procedures, the weights for the AHAR and AHAR-Veterans 

report are not exactly the same because fewer communities provided information for the AHAR-Veterans Report. 

For the AHAR, 334 communities provided usable HMIS data, but only 300 (of the 334) also provided useable 

HMIS data focused solely on veterans for the AHAR-Vets report. With the weighted data from these two samples, 

the research team compared the estimated number of adults and found the larger AHAR sample produced an 

estimate about 1 percent higher. Because the larger sample is expected to be more reliable, the research team used 

the AHAR sample as a population control by adjusting the AHAR-vet estimates by the ratio of the number of adults 

in the AHAR sample to the weighted AHAR-vet sample (1.012). 

A-4 Appendix A: Methodology 
beds. To obtain the estimate of veterans' per-bed, per-year for general beds, researchers first 

subtracted the estimated to be served by participating veterans-only programs to arrive at an 

estimated veterans' per-bed, per-year measure for participating providers serving the general 

population. This veterans' per-bed, per-year estimate for participating general providers was used to 

impute the number of veterans served by non-participating general providers. 

If the percentage of veterans-only provider beds participating in HMIS was the same as the overall 

percentage of participating beds in each community, this adjustment would not affect the estimates. 

However, the average of communities’ veterans-only participation rate is a little lower (80 percent) 

than the overall participation rate (87 percent), so this adjustment increases the estimated number of 

veterans served by Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing Facilities. After this adjustment, 

the revised estimate of the number of sheltered veterans in the year is 136,334. 

VA homeless programs not included in the estimate 

Researchers compared the emergency shelter and transitional housing bed inventory that CoCs 

reported to HUD to the VA’s inventory of homeless residential beds and found 5,836 beds for 

homeless veterans funded by the VA that were not included in HUD’s housing inventory. It was 

assumed that because CoCs did not include these programs in their housing inventory they were also 

not included in the CoC’s sheltered count. To estimate the number of veterans that were sheltered in 

these programs during the year, the number of beds in each program was multiplied the by the 

average persons’ per-bed, per-year measure from all participating providers of the same programhousehold type. In total, this adjustment would add 6,243 sheltered homeless veterans to the oneyear estimate, increasing it to 142,576. This report focuses on the estimated 136,334 veterans 

because that is the only group that we have statistically valid demographic characteristics and 

homeless use patterns. It is not possible to estimate this information for the shelters that were not 

reported in the CoC inventory report to HUD on the Housing Inventory Chart of the CoC 

application. 

Appendix A: Methodology A-5 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix B: HMIS-Based Estimates of Veteran Homelessness, 2009 

Appendix B-1: Estimate of Sheltered Homeless Veteran Individuals 

and Families during a One-Year Period, October 

2008–September 2009 

Household Type 

Number of 

Sheltered 

Persons 

All Sheltered Persons... 136,334 

...in emergency shelters only 104,122 

...in transitional housing only 25,729 

...in both emergency shelters and transitional housing 6,484 

Individuals... 132,160 

...in emergency shelters only 101,487 

...in transitional housing only 24,237 

...in both emergency shelters and transitional housing 6,436 

Persons in Families... 5,091 

...in emergency shelters only 3,284 

...in transitional housing only 1,543 

...in both emergency shelters and transitional housing 265 

Households with Children 4,852 

Note: Counts may not add up to total because of rounding. 

Source: Homeless Management Information System data, October 2008–September 2009. 

Appendix B-2: Seasonal Point-in-Time Count of Sheltered 

Homeless Veterans by Household Type, October 

2008-September 2009 

Number of 

Sheltered Homeless 

Persons 

All Sheltered 

Persons Individuals 

Persons in 

Families 

On a single night in 

Oct-08 

Jan-09 

Apr-09 

Jul-09 

On an average night 

22,105 

24,728 

22,827 

22,591 

23,141 

21,185 

23,713 

21,722 

21,520 

22,151 

920 

1,015 

1,105 

1,072 

990 

Note: Counts may not add up to total because of rounding. 

Source: Homeless Management Information System data, October 2008–September 2009. 

Appendix B: HMIS-Based Estimates of Veteran Homelessness, 2009 B-1 
 

Appendix B-3: Demographic Characteristics of Sheltered Homeless Veterans by 

Household Type, October 2008–September 2009 

Characteristics 

All Sheltered 

Persons Individuals 

Persons in 

Families 

Number of Homeless Persons 

Gender 

136,334 132,160 5,091 

Female 10,214 7,324 2,966 

Male 125,931 124,682 2,089 

Unknown 

Ethnicity 

188 154 36 

Non–Hispanic/non–Latino 119,988 116,349 4,411 

Hispanic/Latino 14,945 14,455 607 

Unknown 

Race 

1,400 1,356 72 

White, non–Hispanic/non– 

Latino 

66,101 64,628 1,897 

White, Hispanic/Latino 11,037 10,871 242 

Black or African American 45,602 43,600 2,250 

Asian 434 411 26 

American Indian or Alaska 

Native 

4,602 4,615 56 

Native Hawaiian or other 

Pacific Islander 

547 497 60 

Several races 5,936 5,749 251 

Unknown 

Age 

2,075 1,788 309 

18 to 30 11,367 9,501 1,921 

31 to 50 60,769 58,723 2,430 

51 to 61 51,825 51,583 652 

62 and older 12,170 12,185 52 

Unknown 

Persons by Household Size 

203 170 37 

1 person 135,849 131,976 4786 

2 people 358 150 210 

3 people 38 2 37 

4 people 18 0 18 

5 or more people 22 0 22 

Unknown 

Disabled (adults only) 

51 33 18 

Yes 65,936 65,535 820 

No 61,055 57,345 4,075 

Unknown 9,343 9,280 197 

Note: Counts may not add up to total because of rounding. 

Source: Homeless Management Information System data, October 2008–September 2009. 

B-2 Appendix B: HMIS-Based Estimates of Veteran Homelessness, 2009 
 

 

 

 

 

Appendix B-4: Demographic Characteristics of Sheltered Homeless Veterans in 

Emergency Shelters, October 2008–September 2009 

Characteristics 

Persons in 

Emergency 

Shelters Individuals 

Persons in 

Families 

Number of Homeless Persons 

Gender 

110,605 107,923 3,549 

Female 7,778 5,828 2,018 

Male 102,753 102,045 1,505 

Unknown 

Ethnicity 

74 50 26 

Non–Hispanic/non–Latino 96,688 94,451 2,992 

Hispanic/Latino 13,096 12,684 519 

Unknown 

Race 

821 788 38 

White, non–Hispanic/non–Latino 54,251 53,607 1,043 

White, Hispanic/Latino 10,136 9,997 215 

Black or African American 34,663 33,216 1,744 

Asian 305 281 25 

American Indian or Alaska Native 4,138 4,139 25 

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific 

Islander 

347 341 8 

Several races 4,985 4,810 219 

Unknown 

Age 

1,779 1,531 268 

18 to 30 9,154 8,017 1,213 

31 to 50 48,076 46,715 1,733 

51 to 61 42,516 42,322 529 

62 and older 10,779 10,814 47 

Unknown 

Persons by Household Size 

80 55 27 

1 person 110,203 107,751 3312 

2 people 302 136 171 

3 people 25 2 23 

4 people 10 0 10 

5 or more people 13 0 13 

Unknown 

Disabled (adults only) 

52 34 19 

Yes 50,115 50,023 501 

No 52,285 49,766 2,940 

Unknown 8,205 8,133 108 

Note: Counts may not add up to total because of rounding. 

Source: Homeless Management Information System data, October 2008–September 2009. 

Appendix B: HMIS-Based Estimates of Veteran Homelessness, 2009 B-3 
 

Appendix B-5: Demographic Characteristics of Sheltered Homeless Veterans in 

Transitional Housing, October 2008-September 2009 

Characteristics 

Persons in 

Transitional 

Housing Individuals 

Persons in 

Families 

Number of Homeless Persons 

Gender 

32,212 30,673 1,807 

Female 2,922 1,865 1,081 

Male 29,168 28,696 716 

Unknown 

Ethnicity 

123 113 10 

Non–Hispanic/non–Latino 28,848 27,441 1,659 

Hispanic/Latino 2,695 2,597 112 

Unknown 

Race 

669 635 36 

White, non–Hispanic/non– 

Latino 

15,006 14,170 950 

White, Hispanic/Latino 1,573 1,542 40 

Black or African American 13,033 12,527 631 

Asian 155 154 2 

American Indian or Alaska 

Native 

615 584 36 

Native Hawaiian or other 

Pacific Islander 

247 191 57 

Several races 1,201 1,168 45 

Unknown 

Age 

383 337 48 

18 to 30 2,738 1,971 787 

31 to 50 15,579 14,869 841 

51 to 61 11,779 11,720 162 

62 and older 1,985 1,992 7 

Unknown 

Persons by Household Size 

131 121 10 

1 person 32,112 30,650 1730 

2 people 68 23 45 

3 people 14 0 15 

4 people 8 0 8 

5 or more people 9 0 9 

Unknown 

Disabled (adults only) 

1 1 0 

Yes 19,051 18,839 375 

No 11,512 10,275 1,334 

Unknown 1,649 1,560 99 

Note: Counts may not add up to total because of rounding. 

Source: Homeless Management Information System data, October 2008–September 2009. 

B-4 Appendix B: HMIS-Based Estimates of Veteran Homelessness, 2009 
Appendix B-6: Demographic Characteristics of Sheltered Homeless 

Veterans by Location, October 2008–September 2009 

Characteristics Principal Cities 

Suburban and Rural 

Areas 

Number of Homeless Persons 

Gender 

97,724 38,608 

Female 6,905 3,308 

Male 90,647 35,284 

Unknown 

Ethnicity 

172 17 

Non–Hispanic/non–Latino 83,346 36,640 

Hispanic/Latino 13,514 1,431 

Unknown 

Race 

863 537 

White, non–Hispanic/non–Latino 41,857 24,242 

White, Hispanic/Latino 10,386 651 

Black or African American 35,479 10,123 

Asian 372 62 

American Indian or Alaska Native 3,698 903 

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific 

Islander 

304 243 

Several races 4,020 1,916 

Unknown 

Age 

1,607 468 

18 to 30 7,938 3,429 

31 to 50 43,445 17,322 

51 to 61 36,778 15,047 

62 and older 9,374 2,796 

Unknown 

Persons by Household Size 

188 14 

1 person 97,347 38,500 

2 people 288 70 

3 people 34 4 

4 people 14 4 

5 or more people 9 12 

Unknown 

Disabled (adults only) 

32 19 

Yes 46,181 19,753 

No 45,936 15,118 

Unknown 5,606 3,737 

Note: Counts may not add up to total because of rounding. 

Source: Homeless Management Information System data, October 2008–September 2009. 

Appendix B: HMIS-Based Estimates of Veteran Homelessness, 2009 B-5 
 

Appendix B-7: Earlier Living Situation of Veterans Using Homeless Residential 

Services by Household Type, October 2008–September 2009 

Earlier Living Situation 

Individuals and 

Adults in 

Families Individuals 

Adults in 

Families 

Number of Homeless Adults 

Living Arrangement the Night before 

Program Entry 

136,334 132,160 5,091 

Place not meant for human habitation 27,617 27,681 224 

Emergency shelter 27,855 26,829 1,128 

Transitional housing 4,386 4,364 58 

Permanent supportive housing 218 209 7 

Psychiatric facility 1,984 2,005 2 

Substance abuse treatment center or 

detox 

7,069 7,019 20 

Hospital (nonpsychiatric) 3,308 3,357 7 

Jail, prison, or juvenile detention 5,678 5,706 3 

Rented housing unit 13,827 12,818 1,102 

Owned housing unit 2,861 2,772 111 

Staying with family 13,684 12,681 1,119 

Staying with friends 10,616 10,206 485 

Hotel or motel (no voucher) 4,311 3,973 373 

Foster care home 345 334 1 

Other living arrangement 5,687 5,483 217 

Unknown 

Stability of Previous Night’s Living 

Arrangement 

6,886 6,722 233 

Stayed 1 week or less 27,502 26,884 824 

Stayed more than 1 week, but less than 

a month 

19,295 18,947 524 

Stayed 1 to 3 months 26,228 24,915 1,439 

Stayed more than 3 months, but less 

than a year 

20,007 19,220 868 

Stayed 1 year or longer 26,138 25,348 948 

Unknown 

ZIP Code of Last Permanent Address 

17,164 16,847 489 

Same jurisdiction as program location 65,212 62,239 3,464 

Different jurisdiction than program 

location 

49,106 48,277 1,259 

Unknown 22,016 21,645 368 

Note: Counts may not add up to total because of rounding. 

Source: Homeless Management Information System data, October 2008–September 2009. 

B-6 Appendix B: HMIS-Based Estimates of Veteran Homelessness, 2009 
Appendix B-8: Previous Living Situation of Veterans Using Homeless Residential 

Services in Emergency Shelters, October 2008-September 2009 

Earlier Living Situation 

Individuals and 

Adults in 

Families in 

Emergency 

Shelters Individuals 

Adults in 

Families 

Number of Homeless Adults 

Living Arrangement the Night before 

Program Entry 

110,605 107,923 3,549 

Place not meant for human habitation 24,623 24,652 160 

Emergency shelter 19,743 19,508 369 

Transitional housing 2,247 2,255 15 

Permanent supportive housing 190 185 8 

Psychiatric facility 1,479 1,490 2 

Substance abuse treatment center or 

detox 

2,646 2,662 5 

Hospital (nonpsychiatric) 2,244 2,255 6 

Jail, prison, or juvenile detention 4,720 4,760 2 

Rented housing unit 13,078 12,497 688 

Owned housing unit 2,636 2,563 97 

Staying with family 12,662 11,681 1,079 

Staying with friends 9,649 9,320 422 

Hotel or motel (no voucher) 3,997 3,683 339 

Foster care home 285 286 1 

Other living arrangement 4,788 4,651 168 

Unknown 

Stability of Previous Night’s Living 

Arrangement 

5,619 5,476 187 

Stayed 1 week or less 24,552 24,002 732 

Stayed more than 1 week, but less than 

a month 

13,972 13,670 400 

Stayed 1 to 3 months 18,945 18,418 676 

Stayed more than 3 months, but less 

than a year 

15,140 14,651 608 

Stayed 1 year or longer 23,493 22,939 737 

Unknown 

ZIP Code of Last Permanent Address 

14,504 14,243 395 

Same jurisdiction as program location 50,515 48,690 2,268 

Different jurisdiction than program 

location 

42,640 41,916 1,039 

Unknown 17,451 17,317 242 

Note: Counts may not add up to total because of rounding. 

Source: Homeless Management Information System data, October 2008–September 2009. 

Appendix B: HMIS-Based Estimates of Veteran Homelessness, 2009 B-7 
 

 

 

Appendix B-9: Earlier Living Situation of Veterans Using Homeless Residential 

Services in Transitional Housing, October 2008-September 2009 

Earlier Living Situation 

Individuals and 

Adults in 

Families in 

Transitional 

Housing Individuals 

Adults in 

Families 

Number of Homeless Adults 

Living Arrangement the Night before 

Program Entry 

32,212 30,673 1,807 

Place not meant for human habitation 4,583 4,536 85 

Emergency shelter 9,309 8,546 832 

Transitional housing 2,391 2,362 50 

Permanent supportive housing 35 36 0 

Psychiatric facility 600 608 0 

Substance abuse treatment center or 

detox 

4,798 4,827 16 

Hospital (nonpsychiatric) 1,243 1,250 1 

Jail, prison, or juvenile detention 1,253 1,263 1 

Rented housing unit 1,427 978 459 

Owned housing unit 343 328 19 

Staying with family 1,670 1,592 97 

Staying with friends 1,396 1,325 86 

Hotel or motel (no voucher) 468 418 53 

Foster care home 76 76 0 

Other living arrangement 1,100 1,054 55 

Unknown 

Stability of Previous Night’s Living 

Arrangement 

1,521 1,476 55 

Stayed 1 week or less 4,058 3,960 128 

Stayed more than 1 week, but less than a 

month 

6,464 6,368 163 

Stayed 1 to 3 months 8,538 7,765 844 

Stayed more than 3 months, but less than 

a year 

5,872 5,619 302 

Stayed 1 year or longer 3,979 3,752 258 

Unknown 

ZIP Code of Last Permanent Address 

3,302 3,209 111 

Same jurisdiction as program location 17,910 16,670 1,376 

Different jurisdiction than program location 8,567 8,365 288 

Unknown 5,735 5,638 143 

Note: Counts may not add up to total because of rounding. 

Source: Homeless Management Information System data, October 2008–September 2009. 

B-8 Appendix B: HMIS-Based Estimates of Veteran Homelessness, 2009 
 

 

 

Appendix B-10: Earlier Living Situation of Veterans Using Homeless Residential 

Services by Location, October 2008-September 2009 

Earlier Living Situation Principal Cities 

Suburban and 

Rural Areas 

Number of Homeless Adults 97,724 38,608 

Living Arrangement the Night before Program 

Entry 

Place not meant for human habitation 21,193 6,422 

Emergency shelter 20,431 7,424 

Transitional housing 3,625 762 

Permanent supportive housing 152 66 

Psychiatric facility 983 1,001 

Substance abuse treatment center or detox 4,908 2,161 

Hospital (nonpsychiatric) 2,047 1,261 

Jail, prison, or juvenile detention 4,217 1,461 

Rented housing unit 10,045 3,782 

Owned housing unit 2,057 805 

Staying with family 8,986 4,698 

Staying with friends 6,865 3,751 

Hotel or motel (no voucher) 2,421 1,890 

Foster care home 148 197 

Other living arrangement 4,100 1,587 

Unknown 5,546 1,340 

Stability of Previous Night’s Living Arrangement 

Stayed 1 week or less 17,901 9,599 

Stayed more than 1 week, but less than a month 12,980 6,315 

Stayed 1 to 3 months 18,805 7,423 

Stayed more than 3 months, but less than a year 13,753 6,253 

Stayed 1 year or longer 19,486 6,652 

Unknown 14,798 2,366 

ZIP Code of Last Permanent Address 

Same jurisdiction as program location 48,587 16,624 

Different jurisdiction than program location 30,593 18,513 

Unknown 18,544 3,472 

Note: Counts may not add up to total because of rounding. 

Source: Homeless Management Information System data, October 2008–September 2009. 

Appendix B: HMIS-Based Estimates of Veteran Homelessness, 2009 B-9 
Appendix B-11: Length of Stay in Emergency Shelters by Household Type, 

October 2008-September 2009 

Length of Stay 

Persons in 

Emergency 

Shelters 

Individuals 

Persons in 

All Male Female Families

Number of Homeless 110,605 107,923 102,045 5,828 3,549 

Persons 

Length of Stay 

1 week or less 36,132 35,533 34,227 1,301 879 

1 week to 1 month 31,339 30,689 28,693 1,988 873 

1 to 2 months 16,731 16,259 15,012 1,247 604 

2 to 3 months 8,446 8,171 7,854 314 346 

3 to 4 months 6,016 5,866 5,675 191 204 

4 to 5 months 2,979 2,851 2,704 146 154 

5 to 6 months 2,680 2,611 2,424 187 94 

6 to 7 months 2,075 1,972 1,719 253 120 

7 to 8 months 1,150 1,062 1,000 63 98 

8 to 9 months 604 586 562 24 23 

9 to 10 months 557 541 515 26 21 

10 to 11 months 519 499 487 11 24 

11 months to 1 year 395 387 360 27 12 

1 year 861 845 795 48 23 

Unknown 122 51 19 3 73 

Note: Counts may not add up to total because of rounding. 

Source: Homeless Management Information System data, October 2008–September 2009. 

B-10 Appendix B: HMIS-Based Estimates of Veteran Homelessness, 2009 
Appendix B-12: Length of Stay in Transitional Housing by Household Type, 

October 2008-September 2009 

Length of Stay 

Persons in 

Emergency 

Shelters 

Individuals 

Persons in 

All Male Female Families

Number of Homeless 32,212 30,673 28,696 1,865 1,807 

Persons 

Length of Stay 

1 week or less 2,244 2,228 2,016 210 31 

1 week to 1 month 3,789 3,679 3,420 259 143 

1 to 2 months 3,802 3,743 3,478 264 93 

2 to 3 months 3,208 3,117 2,944 174 120 

3 to 4 months 3,046 2,883 2,633 251 186 

4 to 5 months 3,091 2,505 2,370 134 608 

5 to 6 months 1,776 1,644 1,552 91 149 

6 to 7 months 1,976 1,902 1,760 141 92 

7 to 8 months 1,445 1,397 1,333 64 62 

8 to 9 months 1,107 1,037 992 44 77 

9 to 10 months 967 945 928 17 32 

10 to 11 months 937 927 859 68 20 

11 months to 1 year 885 861 829 32 31 

1 year 3,780 3,659 3,544 115 148 

Unknown 158 145 38 2 13 

Note: Counts may not add up to total because of rounding. 

Source: Homeless Management Information System data, October 2008–September 2009. 

Appendix B: HMIS-Based Estimates of Veteran Homelessness, 2009 B-11 

Appendix C: Data Tables for Calculating Risk Ratios, 2009 

Appendix C-1: Proportion of Veterans In Sheltered Individual Adult Homeless Persons 

Compared to Proportion of Veterans in Overall Individual Adult 

Population 

Characteristics 

Proportion 

of Veterans 

among 

Homeless 

Proportion 

of Veterans 

in Total 

Population 

Proportion 

of Veterans 

in 

Population 

in Poverty 

Risk of 

Homelessness among 

Veterans 

Risk of 

Homelessness among 

Veterans 

Living in 

Poverty 

HV/H 

(%) 

V/Pop 

(%)a 

PV/Pov 

(%)a 

HV/H: 

V/Pop 

HV/H: 

PV/Pov 

Total Number of Persons 13.1% 12.7% 7.2% 1.0 1.8 

Gender 

Female 2.7% 1.4% 1.0% 2.0 2.7 

Male 17.0% 24.0% 14.7% 0.7 1.2 

Ethnicity 

Non–Hispanic/non–Latino 13.7% 13.4% 7.8% 1.0 1.8 

Hispanic/Latino 8.9% 5.5% 3.2% 1.6 2.8 

Racea 

White 16.1% 13.9% 7.9% 1.2 2.0 

Black or African American 12.6% 10.4% 6.9% 1.2 1.8 

Asian 6.2% 3.5% 1.7% 1.8 3.6 

American Indian or Alaska Native 16.2% 12.3% 7.6% 1.3 2.1 

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific 

Islander 15.5% 11.1% 6.3% 1.4 2.5 

Other 3.6% 6.1% 3.9% 0.6 0.9 

Age 

18 to 30 4.1% 2.2% 1.2% 1.8 3.3 

31 to 50 11.5% 7.1% 5.9% 1.6 1.9 

51 to 61 23.5% 14.5% 11.3% 1.6 2.1 

62 and older 28.3% 23.7% 12.2% 1.2 2.3 

Disabled (adults only) 

Yes 17.0% N/A N/A N/A N/A 

No 11.2% N/A N/A N/A N/A a ACS data providing estimates of the number of veterans in the general population and population in poverty 

were adjusted to omit the small number of 17-year-olds who qualify as veterans. Estimates of the number of 

sheltered individuals used in this table only include those 18 years and older. 

V=Veterans, H=Homeless, HV=Homeless Veteran, PV=Veteran in Poverty, Pop=Total Population, 

Pov=Population in Poverty 

Source: Homeless Management Information System Data, 2009 and American Community Survey 2006-2008 3-year 

estimates 

Appendix C: Data Tables for Calculating Risk Ratios, 2009 C-1 
Appendix C-2: Proportion of Veterans In Sheltered Families Compared to Proportion 

of Veterans in Overall Family Population 

Characteristics 

Proportion 

of Veterans 

among 

Homeless 

Proportion 

of Veterans 

in Total 

Population 

Proportion 

of Veterans 

in 

Population 

in Poverty 

Risk of 

Homelessness among 

Veterans 

Risk of 

Homelessness among 

Veterans 

Living in 

Poverty 

HV/H 

(%) 

V/Pop 

(%)a 

PV/Pov 

(%)a 

HV/H: 

V/Pop 

(HV/H: 

PV/Pov) 

Total Number of Persons 2.4% 5.6% 2.7% 0.4 0.9 

Gender 

Female 1.8% 1.3% 0.9% 1.3 2.1 

Male 4.9% 10.5% 6.1% 0.5 0.8 

Ethnicity 

Non–Hispanic/non–Latino 2.8% 6.4% 3.5% 0.4 0.8 

Hispanic/Latino 1.1% 2.4% 0.9% 0.5 1.3 

Racea 

White, non–Hispanic/non–Latino 3.8% 6.0% 3.2% 0.6 1.2 

Black or African American 2.2% 6.8% 2.8% 0.3 0.8 

Asian 1.5% 1.9% 1.1% 0.8 1.3 

American Indian or Alaska Native 0.7% 6.3% 3.4% 0.1 0.2 

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific 

Islander 2.2% 6.4% 1.9% 0.3 1.2 

Other 1.1% 2.8% 1.1% 0.4 1.0 

Age 

18 to 30 1.7% 2.3% 1.2% 0.7 1.4 

31 to 50 2.8% 5.6% 2.9% 0.5 1.0 

51 to 61 10.7% 11.7% 7.5% 0.9 1.4 

62 and older 6.8% 15.2% 8.2% 0.4 0.8 

Disabled (adults only) 

Yes 3.0% N/A N/A N/A N/A 

No 2.4% N/A N/A N/A N/A a ACS data providing estimates of the number of veterans in the general population and population in poverty were 

adjusted to omit the small number of 17-year-olds who qualify as veterans. Estimates of the number of sheltered 

individuals used in this table only include those 18 years and older. 

V=Veterans, H=Homeless, HV=Homeless Veteran, PV=Veteran in Poverty, Pop=Total Population, Pov=Population in 

Poverty 

Source: Homeless Management Information System Data, 2009 and American Community Survey 2006-2008 3-year estimates 

C-2 Appendix C: Data Tables for Calculating Risk Ratios, 2009 
 

Appendix C-3: Rate of Homelessness in Veteran Individual Adult Population and Population in 

Poverty Compared to Rate of Homelessness in Non-Veteran in Individual Adult 

Population and Population in Poverty 

Characteristics 

Rate of 

Homelessness among 

Veterans 

Rate of 

Homelessness among 

Veterans 

Living in 

Poverty 

Rate of 

Homelessness among 

NonVeterans 

Rate of 

Homelessness among 

NonVeterans 

Living in 

Poverty 

Risk of 

Homelessness among 

Veterans 

Compared to 

NonVeterans 

Risk of 

Homelessness among 

Veterans 

Living in 

Poverty 

Compared to 

NonVeterans 

Living in 

Poverty 

HV/V 

(%)a 

HV/VPov 

(%)a 

NVH/NV 

(%)a 

NVH/ 

NVPov 

(%)a 

HV/V: 

NVH/NV 

HV/ 

VPov: 

NVH/ 

NVPov 

Number of Homeless Persons 0.7% 12.6% 0.7% 6.5% 1.0 1.9 

Gender of Adults 

Female 0.8% 9.2% 0.4% 3.4% 2.0 2.7 

Male 0.7% 12.8% 1.1% 10.8% 0.6 1.2 

Ethnicityb 

Non–Hispanic/non–Latino 0.7% 11.7% 0.7% 6.2% 1.0 1.9 

Hispanic/Latino 2.0% 24.6% 1.2% 8.2% 1.7 3.0 

Raceb 

White 0.5% 9.4% 2.2% 12.2% 0.2 0.8 

Black or African American 2.7% 23.8% 2.8% 14.7% 0.9 1.6 

Asian 0.2% 3.6% 2.1% 18.1% 0.1 0.2 

American Indian or Alaska Native 3.9% 34.5% 2.4% 16.4% 1.6 2.1 

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific 

Islander 3.0% 49.7% 2.1% 18.1% 1.5 2.7 

Other 1.4% 15.1% 2.4% 16.4% 0.6 0.9 

Age 

18 to 30 1.3% 16.7% 0.7% 4.9% 1.9 3.4 

31 to 50 2.3% 29.4% 1.4% 14.2% 1.7 2.1 

51 to 61 1.1% 16.7% 0.6% 6.9% 1.8 2.4 

62 and older 0.1% 2.5% 0.1% 0.9% 1.3 2.8 a ACS data providing estimates of the number of veterans in the general population and population in poverty were adjusted to omit 

the small number of 17-year-olds who qualify as veterans. Estimates of the number of sheltered individuals used in this table only 

include those 18 years and older. b HMIS data provide estimates of the ethnicity and race for adult veterans only, but estimates of the ethnic and racial composition for 

non-veteran shelter users do not differentiate between adults and children. In this table, the ethnic and racial composition of nonveteran adult shelter users was assumed to be proportionally equivalent to that of non-veteran shelter users overall, which includes 

adults and children. 

V=Veteran, NV=Non-veteran, H=Homeless, HV=Homeless Veteran, NVH=Homeless Non-Veteran, VPov=Veterans in Poverty, 

NVPov=Non-Veterans in Poverty 

Source: Homeless Management Information System Data, 2009 and American Community Survey 2006-2008 3-year estimates 

Appendix C: Data Tables for Calculating Risk Ratios, 2009 C-3 
 

Appendix C-4: Rate of Homelessness in Veteran Adult in Family Population and 

Population in Poverty Compared to Rate of Homelessness in Non-Veteran 

Adult in Family Population and Population in Poverty 

Characteristics 

Rate of 

Homelessness among 

Veterans 

Rate of 

Homelessness among 

Veterans 

Living in 

Poverty 

Rate of 

Homelessness among 

NonVeterans 

Rate of 

Homelessness among 

NonVeterans 

Living in 

Poverty 

Risk of 

Homelessness among 

Veterans 

Compared 

to NonVeterans 

Risk of 

Homelessness among 

Veterans 

Living in 

Poverty 

Compared 

to NonVeterans 

Living in 

Poverty 

HV/V (%)a 

HV 

/VPov 

(%)a 

NVH/NV 

(%)a 

NVH/ 

NVPov 

(%)a 

HV/V: 

NVH/NV 

HV/VPov: 

NVH/ 

NVPov 

Number of Homeless Persons 0.1% 1.7% 0.3% 1.9% 0.4 0.9 

Gender of Adults 

Female 0.5% 4.8% 0.4% 2.3% 1.3 2.1 

Male 0.1% 0.9% 0.1% 1.1% 0.4 0.8 

Ethnicityb 

Non–Hispanic/non–Latino 0.1% 1.7% 0.2% 2.1% 0.4 0.8 

Hispanic/Latino 0.2% 2.1% 0.3% 1.6% 0.5 1.3 

Raceb 

White, non–Hispanic/non–Latino 0.1% 1.0% 1.0% 3.9% 0.1 0.2 

Black or African American 0.3% 3.2% 1.1% 4.4% 0.3 0.7 

Asian 0.0% 0.6% 1.6% 9.5% 0.0 0.1 

American Indian or Alaska 

Native 0.1% 0.8% 0.6% 2.9% 0.2 0.3 

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific 

Islander 0.5% 11.0% 1.6% 9.5% 0.3 1.2 

Other 0.2% 2.8% 0.6% 2.9% 0.4 1.0 

Age 

18 to 30 0.4% 3.6% 0.5% 2.5% 0.7 1.4 

31 to 50 0.1% 1.6% 0.2% 1.7% 0.5 1.0 

51 to 61 0.1% 1.2% 0.1% 0.8% 0.9 1.5 

62 and older 0.0% 0.2% 0.0% 0.2% 0.4 0.8 a ACS data providing estimates of the number of veterans in the general population and population in poverty were 

adjusted to omit the small number of 17-year-olds who qualify as veterans. Estimates of the number of sheltered 

individuals used in this table only include those 18 years and older. b HMIS data provide estimates of the ethnicity and race for adult veterans only, but estimates of the ethnic and racial 

composition for non-veteran shelter users do not differentiate between adults and children. In this table, the ethnic and 

racial composition of non-veteran adult shelter users was assumed to be proportionally equivalent to that of non-veteran 

shelter users overall, which includes adults and children. 

V=Veteran, NV=Non-veteran, H=Homeless, HV=Homeless Veteran, NVH=Homeless Non-Veteran, VPov=Veterans in 

Poverty, NVPov=Non-Veterans in Poverty 

Source: Homeless Management Information System Data, 2009 and American Community Survey 2006-2008 3-year estimates 

C-4 Appendix C: Data Tables for Calculating Risk Ratios, 2009 
Appendix D: PIT Estimates of Veteran Homelessness by State, 2009 

Appendix D: Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness an

Populations by State, 2009 

d Total State 

State 

PIT Estimate of 

Veteran 

Homelessness 

PIT Estimate of 

All Homeless 

People 

Estimated 

Veteran 

Population State Population 

Alabama 

Alaska 

Arizona 

Arkansas 

California 

Colorado 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

District of Columbia 

Florida 

Georgia 

Hawaii 

Idaho 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Montana 

Nebraska 

Nevada 

New Hampshire 

New Jersey 

New Mexico 

New York 

1,063 

259 

2,343 

249 

19,532 

1,471 

462 

100 

642 

7,135 

2,760 

499 

270 

1,028 

740 

270 

638 

675 

1,985 

123 

932 

1,890 

1,054 

525 

358 

699 

206 

298 

2,619 

167 

618 

408 

5,879 

6,080 405,480 

1,992 74,564 

14,721 557,881 

2,853 248,440 

133,129 2,087,582 

15,268 413,985 

4,605 247,586 

1,130 35,634 

6,228 78,062 

55,599 1,701,811 

20,360 714,958 

5,782 116,885 

1,939 131,770 

14,055 811,941 

6,984 490,987 

3,380 246,243 

1,892 231,099 

5,999 335,618 

12,504 313,600 

2,444 139,163 

11,698 460,006 

15,482 440,643 

14,005 749,308 

7,718 403,943 

2,797 209,945 

6,959 517,843 

1,196 100,524 

3,718 146,020 

14,478 233,324 

1,645 124,118 

13,169 503,969 

3,475 174,384 

61,067 1,060,660 

4,625,354 

681,235 

6,343,952 

2,830,047 

36,418,499 

4,844,568 

3,493,006 

861,804 

588,373 

18,182,321 

9,509,254 

1,280,273 

1,493,713 

12,829,014 

6,335,595 

2,984,391 

2,778,599 

4,234,999 

4,342,582 

1,315,069 

5,618,250 

6,469,770 

10,045,697 

5,181,962 

2,918,790 

5,874,327 

956,496 

1,770,896 

2,546,235 

1,312,298 

8,658,668 

1,962,226 

19,428,881 

Appendix D: PIT Estimates of Veteran Homelessness by State, 2009 D-1 
Appendix D: Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness an

Populations by State, 2009 

d Total State 

State 

PIT Estimate of 

Veteran 

Homelessness 

PIT Estimate of 

All Homeless 

People 

Estimated 

Veteran 

Population State Population 

North Carolina 

North Dakota 

Ohio 

1,118 

168 

1,390 

12,918 742,348 

773 54,203 

12,700 946,707 

9,036,449 

638,613 

11,473,983 

Oklahoma 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania 

Rhode Island 

South Carolina 

South Dakota 

Tennessee 

Texas

Utah 

Vermont 

Virginia 

Washington 

West Virginia 

Wisconsin 

Wyoming 

Total 

475 

1,277 

1,440 

120 

629 

160 

1,142 

5,491 

166 

61 

960 

1,963 

271 

608 

117 

75,458 1 

4,838 328,809 

17,309 345,716 

15,096 1,045,306 

1,607 80,668 

4,473 395,860 

731 73,224 

10,532 506,750 

36,761 1,634,329 

3,795 153,936 

1,214 56,373 

8,852 746,748 

22,782 616,471 

1,667 171,112 

6,525 448,802 

515 51,446 

637,439 22,906,784 

3,606,200 

3,735,524 

12,418,756 

1,054,306 

4,403,175 

795,757 

6,144,104 

23,845,989 

2,663,500 

620,738 

7,698,738 

6,453,083 

1,810,358 

5,598,453 

522,833 

301,237,703 1	 There were an additional 151 homeless veterans estimated for Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin 

Islands, for a total of 75,609. The PIT estimates were adjusted statistically to account for four types of 

missing data. First, there were 5,836 beds for homeless veterans that were missing from HUD’s national 

inventory of homeless residential service providers and thus presumably excluded from the PIT count of 

sheltered veterans. Second, approximately two-thirds of CoCs used an HMIS to generate their estimates of 

sheltered homeless veterans, and about 5.4 percent of HMIS records were missing information on veteran 

status. Third, three CoCs in 2009 did not report data on the number of sheltered veterans. Finally, 19 

percent of CoCs had missing information for the number of unsheltered veterans and 16 percent reported 

zero unsheltered veterans. 

D-2 Appendix D: PIT Estimates of Veteran Homelessness by State, 2009 

D-2 Appendix D: PIT Estimates of Veteran Homelessness by State, 2009