Safe Homes 2026 Women Veterans' Policy Report

SAFE HOMES 2026 WOMEN VETERANS’ POLICY REPORT

Addressing Homelessness, Military Sexual Trauma, and Economic Inequity Among Women Veterans

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Women veterans are the fastest-growing homeless veteran population in the United States. They experience higher rates of Military Sexual Trauma (MST), domestic violence, and economic instability than their male counterparts — yet remain underserved by traditional veteran systems. This report outlines the urgent challenges facing women veterans, identifies systemic gaps, and provides actionable policy recommendations for federal, state, and local leaders. It draws on Safe Homes 30+ years of direct service experience, national research, and the lived experiences of the women we serve.

Key Findings:

  • Women veterans are twice as likely as male veterans to experience homelessness.
  • Up to 1 in 3 women veterans report MST during service.
  • Women veterans face higher unemployment rates than male veterans.
  • Many veteran systems remain male-centered, leaving women feeling invisible or unsafe.
  • Childcare, housing, and trauma-informed mental health services remain major barriers.

Policy Priorities:

  1. Expand gender-specific housing and MST-informed services.
  2. Strengthen trauma-informed care across all VA and community programs.
  3. Increase access to childcare, workforce development, and digital literacy.
  4. Improve interagency coordination between VA, HUD, DOJ, and HHS.
  5. Invest in community-based organizations serving women veterans.

Women veterans served our nation with courage. Women veterans deserve systems that serve them with dignity.

SECTION 1 — THE STATE OF WOMEN VETERANS IN AMERICA

1.1 Demographics

With Janis’ steadfast commitment, Safe Homes LOMF Division continues to address these issues by providing emergency, transitional and permanent housing, job-readiness training, life skills training, referral services for the appropriate mental health counseling, and therapeutic classes.


Women now represent:

  • 17% of active-duty military
  • 21% of new recruits
  • 10% of the total veteran population


The number of women veterans is projected to grow significantly over the next decade.

1.2 Homelessness

Women veterans are:

  • Twice as likely as male veterans to experience homelessness
  • More likely to be single mothers
  • More likely to experience hidden homelessness (couch-surfing, unsafe housing)


Traditional shelters often lack:

  • Women-only spaces
  • Family-friendly accommodations
  • Trauma-informed environments

1.3 Military Sexual Trauma (MST)

MST remains one of the most significant predictors of homelessness among women veterans.


Key realities:

  • Up to 1 in 3 women veterans report MST
  • MST survivors face higher rates of PTSD, depression, and unemployment
  • Many avoid VA services due to re-traumatization or lack of gender-specific care

1.4 Economic Instability

Women veterans face:

  • Higher unemployment
  • Lower average income
  • Barriers to digital literacy
  • Limited access to childcare
  • Difficulty translating military skills into civilian employment

SECTION 2 — SYSTEMIC GAPS IN SERVICES

2.1 Male-Centered Veteran Systems

Many veteran programs were designed decades ago for a predominantly male population. Women veterans report:

  • Feeling invisible
  • Experiencing harassment in mixed-gender spaces
  • Lack of childcare
  • Lack of MST-informed providers
  • Difficulty translating military skills into civilian employment

2.2 Insufficient Trauma-Informed Care

Many providers lack:

  • MST-specific training
  • Trauma-informed practices
  • Gender-responsive approaches


This leads to:

  • Re-traumatization
  • Avoidance of services
  • Poor outcomes

2.3 Housing Gaps

Women veterans need:

  • Women-only housing
  • Family-friendly units
  • Safe environments for MST survivors


These are in short supply nationwide.

2.4 Workforce Barriers

Women veterans face:

  • Digital literacy gaps
  • Limited access to training
  • Employer bias
  • Lack of childcare

SECTION 3 — POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

FEDERAL POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

3.1 Expand Gender-Specific Housing

  • Increase HUD-VASH vouchers for women with children
  • Fund women-only transitional housing
  • Require trauma-informed standards in all VA-funded housing

3.2 Strengthen MST-Informed Mental Health Services

  • Increase MST-specific funding stream
  • Require MST training for all VA staff
  • Expand telehealth for MST survivors

3.3 Improve Interagency Coordination

  • Strengthen collaboration between VA, HUD, DOJ, and HHS
  • Create a Women Veterans Interagency Task Force
  • Standardize data collection on women veterans

3.4 Expand Workforce Development

  • Fund digital literacy and tech training
  • Support women veteran entrepreneurship
  • Provide childcare subsidies for training programs

STATE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

3.5 State Housing Investments

  • Allocate state housing trust funds for women veterans
  • Support rapid rehousing programs

3.6 Trauma-Informed Provider Training

  • Require trauma-informed care training for state-funded providers
  • Fund MST-specific counseling programs

3.7 Childcare Support

  • Provide childcare subsidies for veteran families
  • Expand childcare access in rural areas

STATE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

3.8 Local Housing Solutions

  • Fund women-only shelter beds
  • Support family-friendly transitional housing

3.9 Transportation Access

  • Provide transit vouchers for veterans
  • Expand rural transportation options

3.10 Local Workforce Partnerships

  • Partner with community colleges
  • Create employer pipelines for women veterans

SECTION 4 — THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS

Community-based organizations like Safe Homes are essential because these organizations often fill gaps left by federal systems and they provide:

  • Trauma-informed, gender-responsive care
  • MST-specific support
  • Family stabilization
  • Workforce development
  • Housing navigation
  • Peer support


Policy Recommendation: Increase federal and state funding for community-based women veteran programs.