📊 I. Current National Estimates (Latest PIT Count)

Point-in-Time (PIT) Count — January 2024

 • Total Veterans Experiencing Homelessness: 32,882 on a single night — the lowest number since national tracking began in 2009.

 • Sheltered Homeless Veterans: 19,031 — located in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or other temporary supportive environments.

 • Unsheltered Homeless Veterans: 13,851 — living in places not meant for human habitation (streets, cars, parks).

Year-over-Year Trend (2023 → 2024)

 • Overall decline: Veteran homelessness fell 7.5% from 2023 to 2024.

 • Unsheltered decline: Unsheltered veteran homelessness dropped by about 10.6%–10.7% over the same period.

📉 II. Historical Trends (2010–2024)

Long-Term Decline

 • Since 2010: Veteran homelessness has dropped approximately 55.6%.

 • Since 2020: There has been about an 11–12% reduction in veteran homelessness.

This significant drop reflects sustained efforts by federal, state, and local partners over the last decade.

Comparison with National Homelessness Trends

 • General homelessness: While homelessness overall increased significantly in the early 2020s (e.g., ~18% rise in the general homeless population in 2024), veteran homelessness declined, contrasting with national trends.

🏠 III. Annual Assistance and Housing Placement

Housing Outcomes (Fiscal Year Data):

 • FY 2024: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) housed 47,925 veterans experiencing homelessness, surpassing its goal.

 • FY 2025: The VA reportedly housed 51,936 unique veterans — the largest number since new tracking began.

 • Return to Homelessness: About 95.9% of veterans housed in 2024 remained stably housed, with about 4.1% returning briefly to homelessness.

Support Services

Programs like HUD-VASH (HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing), Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), and others have been key in preventing and ending homelessness by combining housing assistance with healthcare, employment services, and case management.

📍 IV. Demographics & Risk Factors

Veteran Population Context

 • PIT counts capture only a snapshot — a single night — and likely underrepresent annual experiences of homelessness. Estimates suggest that over a year, the number of veterans who experience homelessness could be two times the PIT count.

 • Veterans about 5% of all adults experiencing homelessness on a given night.

Age & Other Risk Factors

 • Older veterans (55+) historically made up a large share of the population accessing VA homeless assistance programs, and projections suggest they will remain a significant demographic in need.

 • Risk factors for homelessness among veterans include:

 • Lack of affordable housing

 • Mental health conditions (e.g., PTSD)

 • Substance use disorders

 • Limited social support networks

 • Economic instability

(Detailed demographic breakdowns — such as by gender or race — require more specific datasets and often come from HUD’s AHAR reports or academic surveys.)

🧭 V. Regional and Local “Functional Zero” Achievements

Several communities and states have achieved functional zero status — meaning homelessness among veterans is rare, brief, and non-recurring:

 • 85+ local communities and multiple states have reported reaching this milestone level.

 • Examples include counties that have effectively ended veteran homelessness through coordinated care and housing placement systems.

Note: “Functional zero” doesn’t mean zero homelessness, but that local systems can effectively support every veteran who becomes homeless.

📌 VI. Key Takeaways & Policy Implications

Major Statistical Insights

Metric Value Trend

Total Veterans Homeless (PIT 2024) 32,882 ↓ 7.5% since 2023

Sheltered Homeless Veterans 19,031 ↓ trend

Unsheltered Homeless Veterans 13,851 ↓ ~10%

Reduction since 2010 ~55.6% Long-term ↓

Veterans housed (FY 2024) 47,925+ Exceeded goals

Veterans housed (FY 2025) 51,936 Highest recorded

Policy Impact & Effectiveness

 • Targeted federal funding and housing programs appear strongly correlated with declines in veteran homelessness, even as overall homelessness rose.

 • Efforts emphasize Housing First, rapid re-housing, and supportive services integration.

Challenges Remaining

 • Despite progress, thousands of veterans still experience homelessness, and challenges remain in sustainable wraparound services, especially mental health and employment support.

 • Regional disparities persist, with urban centers often reporting higher unsheltered counts.

📚 References & Data Sources

Data cited in this report is drawn from:

 • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and HUD PIT Count reports for 2024.

 • VA press releases on housing placements and trends.

 • National Coalition for Homeless Veterans contextual estimates.

 • Government and advocacy analyses on long-term trends.