Making an impact on homelessness among veterans

Homeless veterans—a term that is not unfamiliar, but one that will receive little recognition or fanfare this Veterans Day.

In spite of the growing crisis of homelessness in our state and nation, this Veterans Day we will celebrate our country’s veterans—those who fought in wars around the world and served at home in times of peace—with little consideration that 11 percent of the adult homeless population are veterans.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that more than 40,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. And that number is growing. According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, about 1.4 million other veterans are considered at risk of homelessness. It is a sobering fact that in 2010, approximately 12,700 veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn were homeless.

A complex set of factors have been attributed to homelessness among veterans. Many mirror those of the larger homeless population. However, a significant number of homeless veterans also deal with post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as a lack of family and social support networks. In addition, military occupations and training are frequently not transferable to the civilian workplace.

Providing specialized veterans programs that include social support networks and benefit services while addressing veterans’ skills gap are where community colleges are making an impact.

In 2007, Citrus College became the first college in the nation to offer a transitional course for veterans who were returning to civilian life. Since then, the college opened its Veterans Success Center, a 3,000 square foot facility that provides such services as GI Bill processing information, specialized counseling, mental health services and peer-to-peer support groups. The center has computers, study space and a welcoming atmosphere. As with other community colleges in California, Citrus College also has programs in place to serve its homeless students.

Soon the words “service” and “sacrifice will reverberate at Veterans Day celebrations across the nation. Few would argue that the men and women of the United States Armed Forces deserve our respect and our gratitude. They also deserve the opportunity to pursue the education and training that will ensure their future contributions to our country.

About the Author:

Dr. Edward C. Ortell is the senior governing board member at Citrus College and a Professor Emeritus at Pasadena City College. He has served on the California Community College Trustees (CCCT) state board of directors and 11 terms as president of the Citrus College Board of Trustees.