A War With Homelessness

Sources: Canadian Press. Sources: Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press

Imagine coming home after a harrowing journey of war and conflict, and a swirl of chaos ensues in your mind, caused by the aftermath of the things you have seen, done and heard; this inevitably causes your adaptation to civilian life to be anything but smooth…Unfortunately, this is one of the many scenarios a veteran faces when they are deployed back home. The PTSD and mental tolls that follow, expose veterans to a life of alcohol, drugs and homelessness in order to numb the fire that is burning in their mind. 

Since 2020, there have been an estimated 629,300 veterans in Canada. Amongst this, it is believed that approximately 32% of those who serve in the military experience substantial difficulty transitioning to civilian life, putting them at risk of mental illness, addiction, and homelessness. Not only this but according to the 2016 State of Homelessness in Canada, there are 2,950 homeless veterans, accounting for 2.2% of the country's homeless population. This raises a question, what causes veterans to be such a large demographic of Canada’s homeless population? 

One of the main causes aforementioned is the transition they face when trying to live a civilian life. Due to the fact that military service provides a hierarchy of support and leadership that is not repeated in civilian life, veterans frequently do not know where to turn for assistance. Subsequently, as a result, many veterans have voiced a desire for a planned transitional programme that would last many months and assist them in readjusting to ordinary life in their communities. As a result of this stage being essentially crucial, it can greatly affect veterans' mental state and can expose their vulnerability to substance use. 

An additional factor that is in play is veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While 11% of veterans have PTSD, many have reported utilizing alcohol to manage their mental health. This causes a downward spiral in a veteran’s life, and those suffering from PTSD will use alcohol or drugs to cope with their PTSD. Others will try to distract themselves with risky or destructive behaviours, like gambling. All of this increases the chance of a veteran experiencing homelessness. 

Nevertheless, there are various ways we can aid veterans in their shift to society. The 2016 State of Homelessness in Canada report advocates for a Housing First plan to decrease emergency shelter use among veterans and requests the federal government to provide more housing options. This includes the Housing First money for veterans in danger of or suffering homelessness; new affordable housing units created expressly to accommodate veterans and their needs; and to extend veteran benefits eligibility beyond individuals who can demonstrate a clear link between military service and their disability or illness, as well as provide local offices more leeway in distributing emergency funding. As well as this, there are various support services across Canada to aid and support veterans experiencing a tumultuous transition into society. 

Veterans experience a lot of stress and difficulties during their time of service, and trying to get out of the military mindset and adjusting to civilian life proves to be a critical component in their efforts to pursue a life after their service. Nevertheless, there are various challenges they face, and suicide and homelessness become prevalent in returning veterans. It is our responsibility as a society to assist them from leading a difficult life, as they are the ones who fought to keep us safe.

Citations: 

Amon, Emma. McRae, Lindsay. 11th November 2021. Is Veteran Homelessness a Problem in Canada? Homeless hub https://www.homelesshub.ca/blog/veteran-homelessness-problem-canada

CityNews Staff. 9th November 2022. Veterans at greater risk of homelessness across Canada. CityNews Everywhere https://ottawa.citynews.ca/2022/11/09/veterans-at-greater-risk-of-homelessness-across-canada-6079435/

Brewster, Murray. 5th January, 2016. At least 2,250 veterans are homeless, according to groundbreaking analysis. CBC.https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/2250-canadian-veterans-homeless-1.3390674

Vitelli, Romeo. 17th May, 2017. Why Are So Many Veterans Homeless? PsychologyToday. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/media-spotlight/201705/why-are-so-many-veterans-homeless

Unknown. Understanding Veteran Homelessness. Haven Toronto. https://www.haventoronto.ca/single-post/2018/11/07/understanding-veteran-homelessness

Vantol, Victoria. 20th December 2022. Homelessness and PTSD: Why They Go Hand-in-Hand. invisiblePeople. https://invisiblepeople.tv/homelessness-and-ptsd-why-they-go-hand-in-hand/