The Homeless- Women

4% of the homeless are women.  The vast majority are single.  Most come from poor disadvantaged communities.  45% suffer from mental illness, and half have substance abuse problems.  Female homeless veterans represent an estimated 3% of the homeless vets.  Their percentage is lower than male homeless veterans because females are more likely to be married than the males.  Most of the female vets are likely to suffer serious psychiatric illnesses and be unemployed.  But those who do become homeless usually will have a disability, including post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.  A higher percentage of vets returning home from the current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq have these characteristics.