GAO: Homelessness rising among female vets - Military News | News From Afghanistan, Iraq And Around The World - Military Times

GAO: Homelessness rising among female vets

The number of homeless veteran females more than doubled between 2006 and 2010, according to estimates in a recent government report.

Citing “limited” data from the Veterans Affairs Department, the Government Accountability Office issued a report Monday suggesting that the number of homeless female veterans rose to more than 3,300 in 2010, up from less than 1,400 in 2006.

The data is flawed because no government agencies consistently track homelessness among female veterans, which raises questions about the VA’s ability to help those women.

“Absent more complete data, VA does not have the information needed to plan services effectively, allocate grants to providers and track progress toward its overall goal of ending veteran homelessness by 2015,” the report said.

The GAO urged VA to ramp up services for homeless women because the demand is projected to increase in the next several years.

“Without improved services, women — including those with children and those who have experienced military sexual trauma — remain at risk of homelessness and experiencing further abuse,” the report said.

The GAO also identified reports of women who were sexually assaulted while staying in VA-funded homeless shelters.

VA officials reviewed the GAO’s report and said they “generally agree” with its findings.