Approximately 23 percent of the homeless populations in the United States are veterans according to a recent national survey. One reason is veterans have had difficulty finding employment after being discharged from active duty service in the military. Another reason is that many veterans suffer challenges putting the war behind them. Twenty percent suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression and 19% with brain injuries. Others suffer from substance abuse. Still others have no family support. Suicides are also on the rise with rates doubled compared to non-veterans. Many are disabled. Across the country, more than 75,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, with more than 1.5 million veterans at risk of becoming homeless. Hawaii’s jobless rate for veterans is 8.3 percent, two percentage points above the state’s overall rate and slightly more than the national unemployment rate for veterans. The objective of the capstone was to fill a gap in healthcare for homeless veterans who lack or have limited access to medical and social services.
