Call for action: Research needs for homeless Canadian women Veterans

From 2015 to 2019, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA) raised challenges significant enough to prompt government-funded research on understanding the scope of Veteran homelessness and implementing evidence-based recommendations.¹ Between 2015 and 2024, the Government of Canada invested more than $4 billion in programs and research.² More recent ACVA hearings have specifically highlighted the urgent need to address challenges faced by women Veterans, including disparities in homelessness experienced by women Veterans.¹ In response, the Government of Canada recently invested $1.2 million in a five-year study on homelessness among women Veterans.

Consistent with these reports, the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) urges action on research concerning Veterans’ homelessness. CIMVHR asserts that it is crucial for Canadians to recognize the sacrifices made by Veterans and to invest in understanding and addressing homelessness among this population, particularly women Veterans.

Homelessness statistics in Canada vary by source, and under-reporting often skews the data. In 2018, more than 25,000 Canadians were estimated to be living in homeless situations, either in shelters or elsewhere.³ Additionally, 235,000 Canadians were reported to experience homelessness over the course of a year. This amounts to less than 1% of the general population, with 60% being male, 39% being female, and 1% identifying as non-binary or transgender.⁴ The same study estimated that approximately 3,000–5,000 Veterans in Canada experience homelessness each year, representing 7%-11% of the homeless population.⁵ These figures are significant, considering that Veterans make up only 1.7% of the general population.

Although women constitute 15% of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), it is estimated that 30% of homeless Veterans are women or identify as women.⁶ Recognizing these disparities is essential in addressing homelessness among Veterans, particularly for women, who may face unique challenges and require tailored support.

Numerous risk factors contribute to the disparities in homelessness among women Veterans throughout their lives. These factors include, but are not exclusive to, adverse childhood events, abuse, family upheaval, military sexual trauma, intimate partner violence, substance use, physical and mental health diagnoses, race and racism, and gender discrimination.⁷ Research has also provided a gender analysis of the military-to-civilian transition, shedding light on the disproportionate health outcomes experienced by women Veterans globally.^8,9 Moreover, women Veterans may have additional challenges with experiences of homelessness, including being one of the few women using homeless shelters among groups of men.

A scoping review revealed that most articles examining the challenges faced by women Veterans focus on sex, with a primary emphasis on health issues experienced by women Veterans in the United States.^10,11 Limited research has been conducted on the sex- and gender-based analysis of military-to-civilian transition challenges among women Veterans in the Canadian context.¹²

It has been reported that female CAF Veterans are more likely to experience various mental and physical health conditions than their male counterparts.¹³ These experiences often lead to shorter service periods and lower pensions, as well as reduced labour market earnings. Underlying systemic issues, such as weaker social support systems available to women Veterans compared with men Veterans and civilians, have also been highlighted.¹⁴

Women Veterans often face unique challenges during their transition to civilian life, particularly concerning financial security. Studies have found that women leaving the military experience a more significant decline in salary than their male counterparts, with some research indicating a drop of up to 25%.^1,15

It is critical that we take action to address homelessness among Veterans. To make this a reality, we need research into more accurate numbers of Veterans facing homelessness, recognition that a variety of factors throughout the lifespan can affect the rates of homelessness, and a focus on increasing the supports and resources for Veterans who experience homelessness. In particular, given the disparities in the statistics of those affected by homelessness, research needs to focus on women Veterans.