Many D.C. Veterans Homeless, Study Says

The sharp differences in the neighboring states, each of which has a large veteran population, points to the imprecise nature of the homelessness statistics in the report. The disparity might be explained by different methodologies for counting in different jurisdictions, Cunningham said. "Counting homeless people in general is inherently difficult," she said.

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Judah Israel, 51, a D.C. resident who said he served in the Army from 1973 to 1976, described in an interview yesterday how he has been homeless since the 1980s and gone through a series of jobs.

"I've never been able to hold one long," he said. "I've been homeless everywhere."

Israel said hearing loss he suffered through extended exposure to artillery fire has contributed to his problems. Many of the homeless people he has encountered over the years are veterans, as well, he said. "Our problem is housing is not easy to get," he said.

Israel has lived for the past year in an apartment in Northeast Washington he has rented with the assistance of Pathways to Housing, a New York-based nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing for veterans.

"When people get settled, that's when they decide they want a job," said Linda Kaufman, chief executive of the organization.

A Gallup poll of veterans to be released today by Fannie Mae found that almost one-quarter have been concerned that they might not have a place to live.

In addition, the survey of 1,005 veterans, conducted in September and October with a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points, found that 34 percent were at least somewhat concerned that medical expenses could cause them or their family to become homeless.

The nightly total number of homeless veterans in 2006 represents an increase of 0.8 percent from the 194,254 in 2005, but a sharp decline from the estimated 250,000 a decade ago.

The decline may reflect the passing of the country's aging veteran population. Nationwide there are 23.4 million veterans, of whom almost 1 percent are homeless on any given night, Cunningham said.