Nov. 26, 2013

According to Housing Instability Among Our Nation’s Veterans, a study released Nov. 12 by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) 1.5 million veteran households suffered from severe housing cost burden in 2011, spending more than 50% of their income on housing. There were also significant disparities among veteran households, with veteran households headed by a racial minority, females, and those with a disability more likely to be cost burdened than their counterparts.

NLIHC’s report provides a deeper understanding of the housing needs of veterans by examining several characteristics, including household income, race/ethnicity, family type, service-related disabilities, and period of military service. Data used for the analysis was drawn from 2011 Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) population and housing files of the American Community Survey.

The report finds that veterans with low incomes suffer from the shortage of affordable, decent housing just as low-income non-veterans do. If the nation is to prevent homelessness among our veterans, the federal government must make a much greater investment in permanent, affordable housing.

To view the full report, click here.