Stopping the Homeless-to-Prison Cycle for Veterans

by Natalie Wendt · 2010-06-12 07:55:00 UTC
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Prison cell by decade_null.According to the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs, about 200,000 veterans experience homelessness every year. Another 140,000 veterans are in prison. Whoa — 340,000 veterans spending time without a home or in prison every year? That's just disgraceful. Especially considering that nearly half of vets behind bars are there for drug-related offenses. In fact, substance abuse (pdf) is the number one predictor of incarceration for veterans.

And what are some common causes of substance abuse among veterans? Post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD) and traumatic brain injury, which also happen to be major causes of homelessness among vets. So it shouldn't be a surprise that veterans who've been incarcerated are too often homeless upon release. The trauma and addiction that lead to arrest also make it difficult to find work and keep a roof over one's head. Getting sober, dealing with health problems and overcoming the traumas of war all require stability. That's hard to come by when you're homeless and out of work, especially with a criminal record hanging over you. So the cycle repeats itself and some veterans bounce from prison to homelessness and back again for years.

A new grant program tries to break the cycle by helping prevent homelessness among veterans released from prison. Targeting incarcerated veterans at risk of homelessness, the new Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program grant competition from the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (DOL-VETS) is currently awarding $4 million to relevant programs. (Not much, but better than nothing.)

According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans at least 12 IVTP grants will be funded by DOL-VETS. The grants aim to fund referrals and counseling to help veterans find work and reintegrate after prison. IVPT grants are also intended "to stimulate the development of effective service delivery systems that will address the complex problems facing incarcerated and/or transitioning incarcerated veterans who are 'at risk' of homelessness."

If done right, this will include counseling, drug treatment, medical care, job training and housing assistance. While we're hoping, let's also imagine a country where veterans don't have to go to prison to qualify for help avoiding homelessness. Actually, let's imagine a country where everybody at risk for becoming homeless is eligible for the help they need.

Photo credit: decade_null

Natalie Wendt is an elementary school teacher and freelance writer. She has volunteered at Hope House, a shelter for homeless women, and with Food Not Bombs.
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