After putting their lives on the line, fighting to maintain our freedom, United States veterans more often than not seem to be forgotten. Learn about some of the struggles our U.S. men and women veterans face after war and how you can give back to those that protect you.

1. The situation for many veterans is difficult, but there are ways you
can help. Supporting military charities such as the USO, the Wounded
Warrior Project, and Homes for Our Troops is one way to provide a
veteran with donations that can help improve their lives. Another way is to
donate an unwanted vehicle to a specialized charity that accepts vehicles —
thus supporting a veteran through car donations.
For many U.S. military veterans who faced danger while in
uniform, returning home from deployment presents its own difficulties.
There are nearly 20.1 million veterans in the U.S., and due to factors
such as mental illness, substance abuse and financial issues, many of
them face significant challenges after they return home.
20% of Americans who die by
suicide every year are veterans.
1 out of 10 Iraq and Afghanistan
war veterans treated by the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs
have substance abuse problems.
Of veterans who served in Iraq or
Afghanistan, 20% suffer from either depression
or post-traumatic stress disorder.
1 OUT OF 10
3.6
CLASSIFIED
AS DISABLED.
MILLION
VETERANS ARE
1IN 5
veterans live alone. Lack of support
and social isolation are two of the
biggest risk factors for homelessness.
Veteran Car Donations
www.veterancardonations.org
Homeless veterans spend an
average of six years living on the streets,
compared with an average of four years
for homeless non-veterans.
467,000
VETERANS
More than 467,000 veterans are
spending MORE THAN HALF OF
THEIR INCOME ON RENT, placing
them at higher risk of homelessness
in the future.
51% of homeless veterans are 51 or older, while only
19% of non-veteran homeless people were older than 51.
VETERANS
MAKE UP TO
ADULT HOMELESS
POPULATION.10%OF THE
IN SOME CASES, VETERANS LIVE ON THE STREETS
FOR UP TO NINE TIMES LONGER THAN THE
LENGTH OF THEIR DEPLOYMENTS.9XLONGER
veterans are considered to be at risk for homelessness.
1.5 MILLION
20% OF THE MALE HOMELESS
POPULATION CONSISTS OF VETERANS
LIFE AFTER WAR:
THE STRUGGLES
OUR VETERANS FACE