Approximately 200,000 Americans leave active duty every year and begin the uneasy transition into civilian life. This shift into a familiar yet vastly different world naturally comes with several challenges, but the bigger problem is that these challenges rarely occur one at a time.
Veterans frequently face overlapping difficulties in work, health, housing, and relationships—what experts call co-occurring needs. For example, an ongoing health condition can make it harder to keep steady employment, straining finances and family relationships. Over time, a single challenge can ripple outward and affect other areas of life.
In this blog, the first of our #VeteransCare Series, we explore what needs tend to arise for veterans fresh out of service, and why addressing them together rather than separately is important for lasting stability. The path to successful civilian reintegration depends on understanding and addressing the interconnected web of needs veterans face during and after transition.
Mental Health and Loneliness
The mental toll of leaving service can be profound. The transition period is challenging because it collapses several significant life changes at once: adjusting to less predictable schedules after years of regimented structure, losing proximity to a tight community, or suddenly navigating complex benefits systems, job searches, and family dynamics. Unsurprisingly, the VA’s Post-Separation Transition Assistance Program (PSTAP) Longitudinal Study found that more than half of recently separated veterans—between 57% and 65% across cohorts—reported an ongoing mental or emotional health condition (VA PSTAP 2022).
For many, the military’s close-knit environment provided direction and belonging, and its absence can amplify feelings of disconnection. That makes loneliness a particularly unique issue for veterans. Research from the Million Veteran Program shows that loneliness is widespread among veterans and closely tied to depression, sleep problems, and overall physical health (VA News 2023). The Cohen Veterans Network’s 2024 survey similarly found that over three-quarters of military couples experience loneliness at least some of the time, with many citing a loss of community after separation (Cohen Veterans Network 2024). Without proper social support, the risk of emotional distress, substance use, and even physical illness grows, creating yet another link in the chain of co-occurring needs that can follow veterans home.
Employment and Financial Stability
If mental health shapes a veteran’s sense of identity, employment determines their sense of direction. In the area of employment, veterans actually tend to perform pretty well. The PSTAP study reports that a substantial majority are employed full-time within several years of separation (VA PSTAP 2022). But finding a job doesn’t always mean finding the right one. Many veterans describe feeling underemployed, working in positions that underuse their skills or offer limited advancement. This mismatch can be demoralizing and financially draining, especially for those who are used to a mission-oriented work environment.
Several programs are trying to help out where they can, but outcomes vary. The Department of Labor’s Employment Navigator and Partnership Program pairs veterans with individualized career coaching, while SkillBridge fellowships give service members civilian work experience before discharge. Early data suggest these initiatives help shorten the time between separation and first employment, but challenges remain (U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services, U.S. Government Accountability Office). Many veterans still struggle to show how their military experience translates to civilian jobs. They’re employed, but not always in roles that match their skills or provide long-term stability.
Housing
Most veterans secure stable housing after transition. According to the VA, over 90% of veterans live in permanent housing within the first few years of leaving the military. But that still leaves thousands who struggle to find or keep a home. In 2023, the Department of Housing and Urban Development reported that 35,574 veterans experienced homelessness, a 7.4% increase from the year before (HUD PIT Count 2023).
Housing problems often come from the same overlapping challenges veterans face elsewhere. Limited savings can make rent or deposits hard to afford. Veterans dealing with chronic pain, PTSD, or depression may have trouble keeping steady jobs. And without the safety net of the military system, even minor setbacks—like a late paycheck or a medical bill—can spiral quickly. Losing the structured military support system also means minor disruptions can escalate rapidly without a safety net.
Homelessness, in turn, intensifies every other area of need. It disrupts access to health care, deepens financial instability, and compounds psychological stress. Veterans who lose housing often report worsening depression, chronic pain, or substance use.
Conclusion
The earliest months after leaving the military are often the most precarious. Supporting veterans during this early period can make the difference between finding stability and facing years of struggle. For a deeper explanation of how these needs are categorized and how organizations can better coordinate to meet them, see our companion report, Understanding U.S. Veterans and Military Connected Individuals’ Needs.
Written by Courtney Kim (Class of ’26)