Older veterans need modest home modifications or accessible rental housing because, with age, their mobility gets compromised. Therefore, they need a safe home to stay in and age in peace. Homeless or near-homeless older veterans need intensive outreach and services to ensure stable housing. It also helps to promote self-sufficiency. As the population ages, housing, health, and other needs change. Therefore, the search for veterans housing assistance near me continues to increase. Many veterans need different mortgage-free housing options and more assistance to age comfortably in their homes or communities.

The Risks Associated with the Lifestyle of Homeless Veterans 

Homeless veterans tend to be older than the non-veteran homeless. Although there is a complex set of risks associated with the family background, homelessness, access to support from friends and family, and other personal characteristics are the most powerful indicators of the risk of homelessness amongst the older veteran population. Just like older adults in the civilian population, older veterans have higher physical limitations and health problems while they age. Almost 35% of the veterans are aged 55 years and more. Older veterans also have a service-related disabilities.

Veterans housing assistance near me and support service programs are available for assistance with service-related disabilities. The services are available for a large section of the aging veteran population that require assistance. Older veterans experience a wide array of housing challenges, from finding a house they can afford in their communities to dealing with psychological, physical, and economic conditions that put them at risk of homelessness.

The Housing Challenges Faced by Older Veterans

As we mentioned above, older veterans face a wide array of housing challenges. These include the housing cost burden, meaning they spend 30% or more of their income on housing. Cost-burdened households vary considerably throughout the country. Some places with the largest veteran populations are where the cost burden of older veterans is the highest. However, despite the affordability challenges, the chances of a household headed by older veterans are less likely to be cost-burdened than older civilian households. This is due to the higher average income and greater likelihood of being homeowners.

Yes, there has been a decline in the number of homeless veterans. Still, older veterans remain vulnerable to homelessness problems, especially those with unstable economic situations, drug dependencies, alcohol, and weak social ties with family and friends. Also, since housing services like veterans housing assistance near me and health services are becoming more and more expensive, the aging older veteran population might face new financial pressure that exposes them to a higher risk of homelessness.

In addition to the affordability challenges, many older veterans face obstacles aging in their homes or communities. Most older Americans prefer to remain in their homes for as long as possible. However, the physical limitations make their life difficult. Older veterans are highly likely to have a disability. Did you know? If you search for veterans housing assistance shelter near me, you shall find that 35% of the older veterans have a disability.

Thus, the older veterans who are homeowners need physical modifications to their home that empowers them to age in peace. The objective of Habitats4Veterans is to connect the homeless and at-risk veterans with affordable housing. Also, we collaborate with the locals, the federals and state agencies, housing providers, community non-profits, and others to improve housing solutions and increase the affordable housing options for homeless veterans.