WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Disabled Veterans National Foundation (www.dvnf.org ) is urging more Americans to understand that the number of female veterans who return from service and face homelessness is a rising problem for us all. The Disabled Veterans National Foundation - founded by female veterans - is calling on more veteran service organizations to realize this problem is a crisis in the making and is growing by the day. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless (www.nationalhomeless.org), between 130,000-200,000 veterans on any given night, are homeless in America. Female veterans represent at least 3% of this number, but the DVNF says that percentage is quickly rising.
“The fact is, women who serve are more likely to be married or have children than male veterans so when they come home with the same post-service stress and issues, they are facing even greater pressures than many male veterans,” says Precilla Wilkewitz, President of DVNF. “The result for a growing number of women veterans who are expected to be wives and mothers on top of holding a job, is too often crashing and losing it all and winding up on our streets.”
National homeless studies show that one out of every three homeless men are veterans. Experts now say that women veterans who return from service in places like Afghanistan with disabilities, including post traumatic stress disorder, are more likely that their male counterparts to wind up homeless. Today, experts fear that the number of 200,000 veterans being on the streets and homeless on any given night me be on the low side.
“We believe that while we currently provide much needed assistance to these homeless veterans, more people and groups need to first accept and recognize this growing crisis for the problem it truly is for us all,” says Wilkewitz. “If more of us understand this as a problem, then our hope is that more programs, treatment and shelter can be targeted.”
For more go to www.dvnf.org