When we talk about veteran homelessness, headlines often offer a sigh of relief: “Homelessness among veterans is down!” or “Indiana sees progress for those who served.” But if you’re on the ground—if you actually work alongside veterans trying to rebuild their lives—you know the reality is far more complicated.

At LTHC Homeless Services, we believe in data, but we also believe in dignity. In 2024, our Veteran Services Program helped 49 veterans—14 families and 53 individuals, including 64 adults and 18 children—secure housing and supportive services. These are not just metrics. These are people with stories, scars, and strength. And getting them housed was only the beginning.

The Numbers May Drop, But the Work Doesn’t

According to a 2023 IndyStar article, Indiana ranks poorly in veteran quality of life. The state falls short in mental health access, economic opportunity, and care quality. These rankings haven’t budged much in the years since. And while some reports, like The War Horse’s 2024 piece, celebrate the VA’s efforts in reducing veteran homelessness, they also admit the success is fragile—especially in states where infrastructure isn’t keeping up with real-life complexity.

Homelessness doesn’t always end in housing. Sometimes people leave the state. Sometimes they move in with estranged family. Sometimes, tragically, they die. If a veteran disappears from the system, it may look like progress on paper—but it’s often a failure of the system to hold on, follow through, and serve them fully.

The Invisible Fallout

What rarely gets covered is what happens when policy shifts ripple through veterans’ lives. Executive orders and administrative cuts in 2025 have quietly defunded or rolled back key job training and transitional supports, leaving many veterans adrift after decades of service. As The War Horse reported, while the VA’s model may be strong, its success is largely dependent on strong partnerships—and those partnerships are strained when funding disappears or eligibility tightens.

What Housing Really Means

Housing isn’t just shelter. It’s stability. At LTHC, we believe that housing is the first step, not the last. Veterans need access to transportation, healthcare, food, community, and income. Our team helps them navigate it all—from that first intake conversation to their first night in a safe bed, and well beyond.

Ending veteran homelessness isn’t about “lowering the number.” It’s about increasing the number of veterans who stay housed—and thrive.

Until Every Hero is Home

No matter how the numbers shake out next year, our mission doesn’t change. We will continue showing up, not for the headlines, but for the humans. Until every veteran has a safe place to land and the support to stay, we’ll keep pushing forward. We owe them nothing less.