“In Her Boots” Campaign to assist homeless female Veterans
Photo Credit: VETS Canada
Esprit de Corps Magazine September 2019 // Volume 26 Issue 8
Let's Talk About Women in the Military – Column 7
by Military Woman
Question:
Is homelessness a problem for women Veterans?
Answer:
Thank you for this important question. Little is known about Veteran homelessness overall, and even less is known about women Veterans.
One problem is how homelessness is defined. The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness defines "homeless" to include anyone using 1) "unsheltered" or outside sleeping locations, 2) homeless or family violence "emergency shelters", 3) "provisionally" or precarious transient housing such as couch surfing and/or 4) being "at risk" for home eviction but not everyone uses this definition. Homelessness statistics will therefore vary widely depending on the definitions and data sources used.
A second problem is the fact that women and men experience homelessness differently. In general, homeless women are less likely than men to be found on the street "unsheltered" or in homeless shelters. Homeless women are more likely to be in family violence (previously called battered women) shelters or provisional housing situations.
One reason for this sex difference is that women are more likely than men to have children with them. A study from the U.S. found 30-45 per cent of homeless women veterans are with children compared to 10 per cent of homeless non-veteran women. Making matters worse, children are not allowed in many homeless shelters and mothers may fear forcible removal of their children if found by government agencies to be living on the streets.
Homeless veteran data collection should therefore include counts from family violence shelters and provisional housing situations-keeping in mind that staff in women's shelters may not routinely screen clients for their veteran status. To complicate matters further, U.S. data suggests that up to 20 per cent of homeless women veterans even if directly asked, may choose to not self-identify as a veteran.
A third problem is the lack of applied gender-based analysis to all government-funded research, programs, and policy. If this was being done, data collection and reporting in a sex-disaggregated manner would be standard. To report combined male and female data together, effectively renders women veterans' experiences invisible.
The last problem, for today, is where does prevention of homelessness fit in this conversation? We can all agree that one homeless veteran is one too many, regardless of their sex. Identification and care of the homeless veteran will always be a moral imperative for Canada and Canadians. Interventions for those already homeless however, is not enough. Homelessness in many situations was preventable if the transitioning and transitioned military members were to receive the services they need when they needed them. This is, arguably, an equal if not higher moral imperative.
The 2015 report "The Extent and Nature of Veteran Homelessness in Canada", called for female specific homeless strategies and programs that provided safe, women specific, temporary shelters and supports. Supports include prevention strategies. One strategy would be screening by health care providers and case managers for the presence of risk factors associated with homelessness. Once identified as at risk, the veteran could qualify for closer support follow-ups and priority access to services.
Homeless Canadian women veterans are more likely than men to have been victims of interpersonal violence (IPV) and abuse, including military sexual trauma. Homelessness in women veterans has also been associated with a history of traumatic head injuries, drug or alcohol addictions and childhood homelessness/ abuse. In recognition of this knowledge, the U.S. has instituted mandatory screening by healthcare service providers for interpersonal/military sexual violence exposures. Canada has not.
Update:
2022. Government of Canada publishes a data snapshot of statistics on homeless Veterans.
2023. McGill University releases a policy recommendation report to answer the question – “What federal policies and programs are needed to ensure meaningful reductions in Veteran homelessness and advance the right to adequate housing for all Veterans in Canada?”
A VAC funded scoping review published on “Female Veterans’ Risk Factors for Homelessness”. No female Veterans were included within the research team.
2024. Veteran Homeless Program to improve services, supports and capacity building.
Pepper Pod given $949,671.00 to fund a “Connect-hers” program of women Veterans supporting women Veterans.
US Veterans Affairs updates it's mandatory screening program for Veterans to include housing, food, and transportation insecurities along with unmet needs for employment, digital technology access, legal and social supports.
