2023's Best Cities for Veterans to Live

Mother soldier smiling and holding son who is wearing a striped shirt and waving an American flag outside

Adjusting to civilian life after serving in the armed forces can be a big challenge.

Which cities set up our vets for comfort and success?

To mark Veterans Day on Nov. 11, LawnStarter compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities to rank 2023’s Best Cities for Veterans.

We looked for cities with high populations of veterans and access to support resources like VA facilities, nonprofits, and PTSD recovery programs. We also considered housing affordability, as well as employment and educational opportunities, among 37 total metrics.

See where your city landed in our ranking below, followed by some highlights, lowlights, and expert tips.

City Rankings
Highlights and Lowlights
Ask the Experts
Methodology
Why This Study Matters

City Rankings

See how each city fared in our ranking:

Overall Rank (1=Best)	City	Overall Score	Community Rank	Support Rank	Medical Health Care Rank	Mental Health Care Rank	Housing Rank	Education and Training Rank	Employment and Volunteering Rank	Affordability Rank	Safety Rank
1	Providence, RI	46.18	191	3	1	1	172	19	4	183	32
2	Salt Lake City, UT	41.71	104	7	7	2	83	3	2	129	169
3	Miami, FL	38.21	142	17	21	4	118	5	7	61	89
4	St. Louis, MO	35.42	74	8	10	16	99	2	36	114	101
5	Syracuse, NY	35.36	101	116	3	5	124	13	39	152	23
6	Des Moines, IA	34.67	87	44	17	18	33	12	22	21	66
7	Tampa, FL	34.40	68	12	15	33	117	51	6	39	20
8	Atlanta, GA	34.09	24	10	56	94	120	6	1	137	86
9	Dayton, OH	33.61	76	58	28	6	58	55	19	96	42
10	Washington, DC	33.58	59	1	68	24	109	33	27	164	126
11	Madison, WI	32.87	149	67	38	11	61	18	26	13	63
12	Pittsburgh, PA	32.75	154	28	25	12	155	8	11	89	78
13	San Antonio, TX	32.47	5	13	121	88	27	34	9	23	68
14	Minneapolis, MN	32.19	43	70	33	14	174	27	10	111	18
15	Grand Rapids, MI	31.89	141	93	45	69	129	1	29	26	21
16	Boston, MA	31.69	175	18	32	27	179	16	5	128	5
17	Jackson, MS	31.48	120	50	8	3	138	68	24	123	161
18	Sioux Falls, SD	31.38	82	63	59	8	18	20	146	73	76
19	McAllen, TX	31.10	160	122	4	62	11	49	145	14	24
20	Cincinnati, OH	31.08	133	36	23	10	121	48	12	135	110
21	Seattle, WA	31.07	36	47	110	20	130	36	18	77	12
22	Charleston, SC	30.82	117	80	35	7	45	26	82	29	159
23	Buffalo, NY	30.14	147	62	16	21	140	30	68	99	6
24	Murfreesboro, TN	30.03	103	126	14	13	12	128	147	6	164
25	Waco, TX	29.40	106	5	40	38	22	71	115	12	180
26	Rochester, NY	29.24	127	117	19	55	135	7	28	122	51
27	Knoxville, TN	29.24	119	91	11	46	49	52	76	17	98
28	Orlando, FL	29.23	61	23	37	36	164	23	15	65	146
29	Norfolk, VA	28.98	11	2	186	189	13	129	46	107	104
30	Boise City, ID	28.92	57	51	108	26	56	63	60	47	34
31	Milwaukee, WI	28.92	166	22	48	32	77	59	52	80	26
32	Hampton, VA	28.52	3	19	174	43	21	160	51	88	119
33	San Diego, CA	28.50	2	4	171	85	128	140	35	116	133
34	Midland, TX	28.11	118	144	124	105	4	117	138	3	8
35	Richmond, VA	28.06	80	11	30	9	162	35	25	189	141
36	Little Rock, AR	27.70	88	83	49	23	89	28	53	35	173
37	Colorado Springs, CO	27.68	9	65	163	104	8	172	66	20	56
38	Laredo, TX	27.53	170	185	44	115	5	89	176	8	10
39	Lincoln, NE	27.50	114	39	86	30	42	109	72	76	49
40	Huntsville, AL	27.37	18	131	154	93	1	180	151	1	132
41	Birmingham, AL	27.30	108	96	24	15	98	71	65	40	189
42	Nashville, TN	27.30	143	26	60	39	103	83	30	24	153
43	Killeen, TX	27.28	1	79	184	197	3	162	199	59	45
44	Austin, TX	27.27	12	14	152	66	132	45	54	42	137
45	Spokane, WA	27.00	28	87	72	45	40	118	127	52	39
46	Kansas City, MO	26.72	38	124	134	40	48	70	64	18	116
47	Fort Wayne, IN	26.69	97	78	39	37	36	65	95	108	72
48	Alexandria, VA	26.67	14	6	167	97	23	80	143	91	109
49	Amarillo, TX	26.65	45	134	92	47	30	150	185	11	46
50	Overland Park, KS	26.64	157	88	52	109	35	145	74	2	47
51	Worcester, MA	26.63	179	82	9	92	137	22	84	64	60
52	Cleveland, OH	26.57	113	45	47	29	114	101	58	132	44
53	Baltimore, MD	26.51	90	27	78	42	139	39	38	145	50
54	North Las Vegas, NV	26.51	39	98	131	44	68	190	193	46	3
55	Houston, TX	26.22	40	21	187	74	70	94	13	58	148
56	Shreveport, LA	26.20	71	147	26	17	28	76	180	87	175
57	Chicago, IL	26.18	77	30	160	67	149	29	23	140	27
58	St. Paul, MN	26.12	159	20	105	100	104	58	41	109	13
59	Tallahassee, FL	26.11	151	29	54	48	131	32	21	100	167
60	El Paso, TX	26.04	34	77	98	83	10	168	152	83	15
61	Augusta, GA	26.02	21	143	118	41	39	95	169	85	35
62	Indianapolis, IN	25.92	116	25	99	75	82	21	34	130	96
63	Arlington, TX	25.88	129	32	155	155	96	111	3	22	138
64	Dallas, TX	25.88	15	89	132	56	62	82	77	44	121
65	Baton Rouge, LA	25.54	105	35	20	99	51	15	42	119	194
66	Oklahoma City, OK	25.48	56	68	94	73	7	119	134	25	142
67	Virginia Beach, VA	25.44	8	24	191	168	17	175	197	43	48
68	Jersey City, NJ	25.26	195	128	31	120	189	4	45	158	7
69	Wichita, KS	25.17	75	84	88	54	25	113	149	55	94
70	Philadelphia, PA	25.15	26	43	120	70	157	85	44	112	43
71	Tempe, AZ	25.14	123	76	100	128	123	31	17	98	74
72	Lexington, KY	25.13	111	175	61	28	60	75	161	118	52
73	Omaha, NE	25.08	52	127	116	49	24	124	124	57	79
74	Columbus, OH	25.06	54	33	158	77	84	108	75	53	57
75	Fayetteville, NC	25.01	4	73	91	61	9	153	195	105	183
76	Montgomery, AL	25.01	33	42	80	71	44	107	89	93	99
77	Savannah, GA	24.84	41	61	69	91	38	17	86	54	195
78	Durham, NC	24.76	109	119	22	19	76	99	109	134	165
79	Jacksonville, FL	24.74	23	9	181	152	46	170	47	33	188
80	Las Vegas, NV	24.67	20	38	142	137	66	158	118	81	22
81	Louisville, KY	24.53	55	59	111	63	64	73	150	117	41
82	New York, NY	24.43	30	34	148	79	186	43	49	154	14
83	Olathe, KS	24.41	144	196	51	163	47	125	85	10	38
84	McKinney, TX	24.39	102	108	97	130	41	184	164	5	55
85	Albuquerque, NM	24.36	64	48	173	64	20	114	165	56	102
86	Fort Worth, TX	24.34	31	60	156	119	52	151	133	7	131
87	Clarksville, TN	24.31	6	177	128	151	2	183	196	68	127
88	Chesapeake, VA	24.26	7	41	183	162	26	176	194	38	103
89	Lubbock, TX	24.26	148	105	27	112	43	79	148	48	82
90	Raleigh, NC	24.17	78	71	62	82	108	53	33	86	155
91	Denver, CO	24.15	13	52	139	90	159	50	8	177	90
92	Portland, OR	23.98	25	103	122	51	150	38	67	181	19
93	Newport News, VA	23.94	17	53	194	179	6	135	171	69	118
94	Henderson, NV	23.94	32	156	172	131	37	186	192	28	17
95	Paterson, NJ	23.93	199	197	2	158	200	9	16	196	25
96	Macon, GA	23.68	86	75	65	89	14	46	154	139	112
97	New Orleans, LA	23.65	63	72	87	31	167	62	103	159	69
98	Tucson, AZ	23.59	50	74	127	57	59	130	153	124	71
99	Fort Collins, CO	23.49	92	146	71	65	80	57	93	79	115
100	Tacoma, WA	23.38	19	101	129	114	75	136	113	31	129
101	Irving, TX	23.37	181	140	93	160	148	37	59	16	93
102	Aurora, CO	23.28	72	118	82	53	92	165	117	78	92
103	Glendale, AZ	23.18	107	109	159	164	63	154	14	95	91
104	Charlotte, NC	23.16	67	55	146	140	71	112	43	67	130
105	Warren, MI	23.09	83	171	147	192	91	86	170	37	16
106	Phoenix, AZ	23.04	94	31	141	87	94	132	79	84	97
107	Aurora, IL	23.00	158	169	95	103	143	69	116	41	28
108	Brownsville, TX	22.98	187	200	55	181	16	152	122	49	31
109	Newark, NJ	22.97	194	57	109	178	192	11	40	162	9
110	Joliet, IL	22.89	140	135	57	174	54	66	90	94	53
111	St. Petersburg, FL	22.89	62	16	112	116	142	122	186	62	114
112	Columbus, GA	22.79	10	162	140	157	15	102	125	126	105
113	Bellevue, WA	22.75	184	121	164	78	169	25	31	144	37
114	Winston-Salem, NC	22.74	122	66	104	149	55	64	101	102	87
115	Plano, TX	22.73	130	113	76	121	126	134	71	36	88
116	San Francisco, CA	22.73	81	69	67	22	191	77	100	198	2
117	Surprise, AZ	22.65	16	186	145	198	93	198	189	15	70
118	Chattanooga, TN	22.64	79	155	29	111	95	91	112	27	178
119	Vancouver, WA	22.62	27	135	144	142	100	144	140	75	29
120	Springfield, MO	22.57	66	164	66	124	112	44	119	113	62
121	Anchorage, AK	22.45	22	107	168	58	19	133	183	45	199
122	Reno, NV	22.41	70	40	18	35	144	169	128	156	193
123	Eugene, OR	22.35	60	188	42	95	79	93	96	151	40
124	Corpus Christi, TX	22.28	42	135	77	154	72	157	190	30	106
125	Salem, OR	22.23	95	94	114	84	88	78	48	161	54
126	Yonkers, NY	22.17	168	198	58	167	122	174	172	70	4
127	Kansas City, KS	22.13	145	178	43	193	53	97	99	9	186
128	Springfield, MA	21.94	188	56	13	173	168	41	55	169	100
129	Tulsa, OK	21.83	84	112	70	136	29	106	130	101	128
130	Chandler, AZ	21.81	112	132	149	165	65	159	136	34	64
131	Denton, TX	21.79	47	167	89	150	32	142	138	74	123
132	Thornton, CO	21.73	96	120	137	188	73	187	182	51	33
133	Rockford, IL	21.69	91	138	50	113	90	47	137	173	30
134	Peoria, AZ	21.60	46	149	198	141	57	194	179	32	58
135	Detroit, MI	21.52	69	95	63	52	154	84	80	178	85
136	Memphis, TN	21.49	100	166	85	59	78	116	141	60	185
137	Garland, TX	21.36	174	158	79	176	105	103	163	19	125
138	Mesa, AZ	21.34	58	154	166	153	66	177	88	72	73
139	Pembroke Pines, FL	21.31	156	168	170	156	34	167	181	4	150
140	Sacramento, CA	21.22	65	81	180	108	147	60	32	168	75
141	Hialeah, FL	21.08	200	86	5	148	198	40	56	180	67
142	Scottsdale, AZ	20.99	85	102	133	126	69	161	144	110	81
143	Akron, OH	20.96	89	157	41	186	86	96	70	166	59
144	Lakewood, CO	20.92	99	64	96	135	125	90	168	66	174
145	Toledo, OH	20.78	93	145	125	133	115	127	131	131	36
146	Long Beach, CA	20.75	164	46	75	25	163	164	37	184	182
147	Naperville, IL	20.74	172	139	130	75	160	115	62	187	1
148	Pasadena, CA	20.54	165	37	176	34	188	10	20	197	179
149	Fort Lauderdale, FL	20.39	132	97	136	118	156	56	104	71	166
150	Santa Ana, CA	20.29	197	15	6	132	195	54	50	194	140
151	Corona, CA	20.12	121	181	117	80	31	173	160	97	172
152	Bridgeport, CT	20.06	178	189	106	170	182	42	87	157	11
153	Port St. Lucie, FL	20.05	29	192	153	81	119	200	198	103	95
154	Frisco, TX	20.03	48	193	74	117	161	197	121	115	77
155	Oakland, CA	19.99	182	54	73	60	181	110	69	179	84
156	Mesquite, TX	19.91	150	195	185	101	101	126	156	63	107
157	Greensboro, NC	19.82	115	148	162	98	50	104	105	82	190
158	Mobile, AL	19.78	51	163	90	72	87	105	167	90	197
159	Grand Prairie, TX	19.72	98	184	126	195	136	163	175	50	117
160	Carrollton, TX	19.61	153	187	161	134	153	81	132	92	83
161	Hollywood, FL	19.44	167	111	12	139	176	141	106	147	143
162	Chula Vista, CA	19.16	49	114	169	190	106	88	191	138	124
163	Glendale, CA	19.00	198	165	36	96	171	74	61	155	152
164	Fresno, CA	18.63	135	104	123	50	113	131	159	165	192
165	San Bernardino, CA	18.61	173	106	151	106	81	98	114	146	163
166	Ontario, CA	18.48	163	176	189	172	165	14	108	150	134
167	Stockton, CA	18.31	169	130	138	181	127	100	135	127	139
168	Roseville, CA	18.04	53	159	188	143	111	182	173	120	158
169	Miramar, FL	18.04	196	152	84	146	190	92	107	106	145
170	Santa Rosa, CA	17.92	131	129	34	123	170	166	110	163	144
171	Oceanside, CA	17.91	35	110	150	183	134	179	184	141	168
172	Modesto, CA	17.75	126	182	81	171	110	123	158	148	170
173	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	17.70	138	151	102	138	141	185	129	143	135
174	Elk Grove, CA	17.61	110	190	195	166	145	193	187	133	61
175	Irvine, CA	17.54	185	92	182	102	193	24	57	182	157
176	Orange, CA	17.50	162	100	143	125	183	148	98	170	65
177	Bakersfield, CA	17.38	139	173	83	110	85	146	177	136	196
178	Pasadena, TX	17.29	152	182	113	194	102	147	123	153	147
179	Pomona, CA	17.28	186	172	115	185	178	67	83	142	162
180	West Valley City, UT	17.07	177	150	103	200	173	87	120	121	191
181	Escondido, CA	16.69	73	161	101	187	107	189	166	172	149
182	Los Angeles, CA	16.52	37	49	190	68	180	155	92	191	184
183	Palmdale, CA	16.36	146	179	179	107	133	188	142	104	198
184	Riverside, CA	16.24	155	90	165	144	74	120	91	186	181
185	Anaheim, CA	16.08	171	115	135	180	175	121	94	160	171
186	Moreno Valley, CA	16.05	137	85	196	199	97	192	174	149	187
187	Garden Grove, CA	15.96	189	191	192	86	146	137	111	176	151
188	Torrance, CA	15.94	134	141	119	122	158	171	102	171	176
189	Cape Coral, FL	15.68	44	194	157	196	151	199	200	167	136
190	Santa Clarita, CA	15.60	128	199	193	161	152	196	188	125	177
191	Fremont, CA	15.55	193	99	46	145	199	139	63	195	108
192	Hayward, CA	15.44	190	180	199	169	196	61	78	174	111
193	Oxnard, CA	15.34	161	142	64	191	166	149	126	188	160
194	Fontana, CA	15.29	180	174	199	184	116	178	157	175	120
195	Salinas, CA	15.26	192	170	53	159	184	156	97	192	113
196	San Jose, CA	14.17	183	133	177	129	194	138	81	190	156
197	Fullerton, CA	13.41	136	123	197	127	185	181	155	199	80
198	Huntington Beach, CA	13.16	125	125	175	147	187	195	178	193	154
199	Lancaster, CA	13.15	124	153	107	177	177	143	162	185	200
200	Sunnyvale, CA	11.88	176	160	178	175	197	191	73	200	122

Infographic showing the Best Cities for Veterans, a ranking based on mental health care, medical care, housing, support, and more — *Note: For presentation purposes, not all ties may be displayed for some metrics above.*

Highlights and Lowlights

Major Mindfulness

Providence, Rhode Island, takes the gold medal overall, placing first in both the Mental and Medical Health Care ranks.

Providence might not have a large veteran population (No. 186), but the city has many resources available to vets who are struggling with their mental health. Mental and medical health care access are vital for returning soldiers, who are five times more likely to experience depression than civilians. This city has the most VA health facilities, PTSD programs, substance-use disorder programs, and suicide prevention coordinators per 10,000 veterans.

Salt Lake City (No. 2) and Syracuse, New York (No. 5), have similarly high Mental and Medical Health Care access. Syracuse has the third-highest number of VA health facilities per 10,000 veterans. Both cities have high access to VA urgent and emergency care facilities, as well as PTSD programs, substance-use disorder programs, and suicide prevention coordinators.

With ongoing shortages of mental and medical health personnel at VA facilities, vets in these cities could potentially get easier access to the resources they need.

Second-Career Cities

Southern cities Atlanta (No. 8), San Antonio, Texas (No. 13), and Arlington, Texas (No. 63), are great options for job-seeking vets. All three cities tied for the highest number of veteran job fairs.

Atlanta comes out on top at No. 1 in Employment and Volunteering. A-Town has the most on-the-job training opportunities per 1,000 veterans.

It’s no surprise that San Antonio, aka Military City, USA, has a large vet population. SA tied with two other cities for the most VET TEC providers. Additionally, Alamo City has many VSOs, USOs, and military bases, which can provide employment resources for transitioning service members.

Homecoming Communities

Cities with multiple military bases often have more resources and community support available for returning and retiring troops.

San Diego (No. 33) brings home the silver in Community, with the most veteran social groups and multiple bases within 20 miles. Norfolk, Virginia (No. 29), and Colorado Springs, Colorado (No. 37), are two other military towns with flourishing military communities.

Gold-tier Support (No. 1) ushered Washington (No. 10) to the top, with Norfolk and San Diego following closely behind in that category. Washington has the most VSOs with representatives to help vets with their VA claims. Meanwhile, Norfolk has the most USOs and military bases within 20 miles, and San Diego tops the rank for the number of vet benefit centers.

Bonus points go to Norfolk and Colorado Springs for having fairly affordable housing for veterans and high rates of approved VA loans to help with housing costs.

Vetting the Golden State

Most California cities fared poorly, with only San Diego landing in the better half of our ranking at No. 33 overall. In fact, Golden State cities make up the entirety of our bottom 20 — except for Cape Coral, Florida.

Not only is the cost of living high, but many veterans in California also lack access to mental health care, education, employment, and other resources. Unaffordable housing is another big factor holding Cali cities back. California accounts for about a third of the entire homeless veteran population in the U.S.

The state has made some progress in housing homeless veterans over the last decade, but it still has a long way to go.

Ask The Experts

There are more than 16 million veterans in the U.S. While we honor them during their service, they can often feel forgotten after they hang up the uniform.

We reached out to some experts to learn more about how we can support our troops after they leave service. Read on to see what they had to say.

What are three of the best but undervalued programs or nonprofits benefiting veterans?
What is the most overlooked issue that veterans face today?
With the persistent shortage of mental health resources at VA hospitals and health systems, where else can veterans find the help they need?
What is one way local and state governments can better support their veterans?
What is one thing civilians can do to show support this Veterans Day and beyond?
What is the best way to prevent veteran homelessness?

Erica L. Adkins, Ph.D., ABPP

Assistant Professor, Faculty Director Military Psychology

Andrea N. Hinton, MBA

CEO & Founder

Kenneth J. Marfilius, DSW, LCSW

Assistant Dean of Online and Distance Education, Associate Teaching Professor, Social Work

Todd Fredricks, DO

Associate Professor of Primary Care, Medical Director CTRU

Erica L. Adkins, Ph.D., ABPP

Assistant Professor, Faculty Director Military Psychology

University of Denver, Graduate School of Professional Psychology

Erica L. Adkins, Ph.D., ABPP

Assistant Professor, Faculty Director Military Psychology

University of Denver, Graduate School of Professional Psychology

What are three of the best but undervalued programs or nonprofits benefiting veterans?

There are so many wonderful programs that serve our veteran population. It depends on what the veteran is needing specifically. For example, if a veteran is needing assistance with job training or job placement, this is an excellent resource.

There are nonprofits that help provide veterans with service animals to assist with mental and/or physical disabilities such as K9s for Warriors.

A personal favorite veteran-focused nonprofit is Vetoga. Vetoga was created by a Marine Corps veteran, Justin Blazejewski. Vetoga provides free 200-hour yoga teacher training to veterans, service members, and family members.

Those trained by Vetoga then return to their communities and provide free yoga classes to veterans, service members, and families. This organization has definitely helped me find peace and healing as a veteran.

What is the most overlooked issue that veterans face today?

Mental health continues to be an overlooked and underserved issue among our veteran and active service populations. While we’re making great strides in ending stigma and increasing awareness and access to mental health services, we still have a long way to go.

With the persistent shortage of mental health resources at VA hospitals and health systems, where else can veterans find the help they need?

Veterans are able to seek a referral to a community provider through the VA if the VA cannot see them within a reasonable time frame, or if the VA cannot provide the frequency of care needed. This can be a frustrating process to navigate, however.

There are a variety of nonprofits offering mental health care and resources to veterans such as The Headstrong Project and Wounded Warrior Project. In addition, there is a program called “give an hour” where licensed mental health clinicians donate an hour of their time to provide pro bono services to veterans.

Veterans in Colorado can receive services at the University of Denver Sturm Center, a treatment clinic for military service members, veterans (regardless of discharge status), and their families. More information can be found at The Sturm Center.

What is one way local and state governments can better support their veterans?

State and local governments can better support their veterans by making access to services easier and more visible. If veterans are unaware of what benefits are available to them or how to access them, then these resources go untapped.

What is one thing civilians can do to show support this Veterans Day and beyond?

Many (but not all) veterans enjoy being asked about their time in service. Being willing to be present and to listen to a veteran talk about the aspects of their military career that was important or impactful for them can go a long way.

Saying “thank you for your service” is a nice gesture, but following up with “would you like to tell me a bit about your career in the military?” or “what did you like most about being in the military? What did you like least?” These are just a few simple examples.

Again, not all veterans want to talk about their military career, but many long for the opportunity to reflect on that important time.

What is the best way to prevent veteran homelessness?

Identifying service members at risk for homelessness as they transition out of the military is a great first step. Does the service member have adequate plans for employment post-military? Where do they plan to relocate? Do they have housing already lined up? Are they aware of how to obtain housing? Do they have the proper documents necessary for obtaining a lease?

Sufficient employment can be one of the biggest barriers to obtaining and maintaining adequate housing. Focusing on employment placement and training can be a great start. Partnering with local agencies that assist with housing can allow veterans the opportunity to receive assistance and to know what resources exist.

Many VA hospitals have a homeless veteran program providing assistance with housing and homelessness.

Andrea N. Hinton, MBA

CEO & Founder

Extravagant Solutions LLC

Andrea N. Hinton, MBA

CEO & Founder

Extravagant Solutions LLC

What are three of the best but undervalued programs or nonprofits benefiting veterans?

What is the most overlooked issue that veterans face today?

Poor mental health and effects of an unsuccessful transition program.
Connectivity: The decrease of community-based centers linking veterans to VA and non-VA resources. (Access to apply and the lack of individuals trained to assist with benefit procedures and eligibility requirements after military service).

With the persistent shortage of mental health resources at VA hospitals and health systems, where else can veterans find the help they need?

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Extravagant Solutions LLC. (Veteran-owned service that provides peer support and resources 24/7)
- Phone: (757-577-4230)
- Email: extravagantsolutionsllc@gmail.com (Virginia)
Genesis Counseling Center
Veterans of Foreign Wars

What is one way local and state governments can better support their veterans?

Conduct orientation and intake workshops on a regular basis to inform veterans of the available local, state, and regional services.

What is one thing civilians can do to show support this Veterans Day and beyond?

Extend the period of recognition. Keep a schedule of events focused on veterans throughout the year.

What is the best way to prevent veteran homelessness?

Perform routine well-checks on all registered veterans.
Before leaving service, identify potential issues.
Ensure adequate transition services are in place to create housing and financial stability as a prerequisite for exiting.

Kenneth J. Marfilius, DSW, LCSW

Assistant Dean of Online and Distance Education, Associate Teaching Professor, Social Work

Syracuse University

Kenneth J. Marfilius, DSW, LCSW

Assistant Dean of Online and Distance Education, Associate Teaching Professor, Social Work

Syracuse University

What are three of the best but undervalued programs or nonprofits benefiting veterans?

Veterans have the drive to succeed, and their experience in the military helps them develop leadership skills and learn new skillsets that are valuable in the civilian world. Unfortunately, veterans often face high unemployment rates, housing instability, and other challenges when they return to civilian life.

There are a plethora of programs providing support for veterans who want to find a good career path after leaving the military. These organizations provide important resources such as education, housing, occupational opportunities, and counseling.

Here at Syracuse University, we are committed to distinguishing Syracuse as the premier university for veterans, military-connected students, and families. We have a National Veterans Resource Center that cultivates and leads innovative academic, government, and community collaborations. This serves as the center of Veteran life on the campus of Syracuse University, the local community, and across the Central New York region.

Syracuse University is also home to the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). IVMF is higher education’s first interdisciplinary academic institute, singularly focused on advancing the post-service lives of military veterans and their families.

Across the nation, there are also local Vet Centers and VA Hospitals and a robust VA benefits and claims system. This system is designed for those veterans who may be diagnosed with military-related mental health or physical challenges and may be eligible for service-connected disability compensation and treatment.

In addition, there is a program called Support Services for Veteran families serving low-income veterans, providing supportive services and case management to prevent the loss of a veteran’s housing or identify new safe, stable, and affordable housing for the veteran and their family.

Our local communities are often the strongest advocates and assets for our veteran populations, as they are our neighbors and support systems. For example, in the Central New York region, an organization called Clear Path for Veterans offers art programs, canine programs, peer support programming, and culinary programs for veterans. These types of programs can be found across the nation, and I encourage our veterans and their families to engage in these types of programs as they assist in finding strong support among social connections and like-minded people—serving as protective factors against the many challenges our returning Veterans face.

These programs play an essential role in helping veterans reintegrate into society after serving our country proudly. Veterans looking for help can find information on their local facility’s website or call the Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255, and press 1, or text 838255 to connect with a VA responder.

What is one way local and state governments can better support their veterans?

Local and state governments can support veterans by providing resources and programs specifically tailored to their needs. Some examples of government-sponsored programs for veterans include job training, financial assistance, and mental health counseling. By supporting military veterans and their families, we are investing in the future of our nation and showing our appreciation for their service.

To really sustain improvement in veteran health, we must first understand the need to sustain improvements in overall public health. Before an individual raises their right hand to become a service member, they are a civilian. Upon completion of their service, they transition out of the military and end up back in our local communities, part of the social fabric of our society.

I have previously served as an active-duty Air Force officer as a mental health clinician and worked for the Department of Veteran Affairs Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Team. As a result, I have seen firsthand that serving in the military in and of itself is not necessarily the sole reason a veteran may be experiencing mental health challenges. While military service may be a contributing factor, we must understand that prior adverse childhood experiences, including pre-military trauma, are a significant risk factor for the development of PTSD or mental health disorders.

Our local communities and state governments must work together on preventing society’s exposure to adverse childhood experiences and build the capacity to create knowledge around ongoing resilience-building when faced with adverse experiences. This can be done through the implementation of parent support programs, peer support systems, family-centered schools, and access to quality and safe education.

Furthermore, access to medical care; stable, safe, and affordable housing; food, transportation; and internet for the technological advancements in our society are critical for the public health of our nation. The single most important factor in developing resilience in children is to a have stable, safe, and committed relationship with a supportive parent, caregiver, or other adult.

Programming must be done on a local, county, state, and national level. Our children will eventually become service members and we want them to not only survive but thrive in the face of adversity before, during, and after their time in service.

What is one thing civilians can do to show support this Veterans Day and beyond?

There are many ways civilians can show support for our veteran community and their families. Educating oneself about the unique challenges that veterans face and how you can best support them is the first step.

Volunteering with organizations that help support veterans and their families and actively listening, without interruption, to what a veteran has to say about their experiences or struggles advances all our understanding. Patience is critical when communicating with a veteran, as they may have experienced things beyond your comprehension.

We must continue to work on reducing the stigma around mental health issues among veterans. There is strength in reaching out, and social support protects all of us. Sometimes the best thing to do is simply call a veteran and ask how they are doing, expressing that they are not alone. It is important to engage in this messaging, so our veteran community and their families do not feel othered and begin to isolate, which only perpetuates the risk involved for those experiencing mental health challenges.

What is the best way to prevent veteran homelessness?

When mental health is left untreated for extended periods of time, there could be several consequences. For example, waiting to seek treatment could impact relationships and occupational function, which are risk factors for homelessness. Individuals with untreated mental illness make up a significant portion of Americans experiencing homelessness.

The VA is committed to ending homelessness among veteran populations. There are coordinated outreach efforts across the nation that connect homeless or at-risk veterans with housing opportunities, employment services, and health care.

We have engaged state and local leaders that have committed and implemented efforts focused on ending veteran homelessness. The VA implemented a housing-first approach, ensuring veterans experiencing homelessness can move into housing with wrap-around services, as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Housing first intently focuses on removing barriers to housing and accepts veterans regardless of financial history, substance use or abuse, and even criminal history. Transitional housing must act as a bridge in an effort to house our veterans as quickly as possible.

Partnerships with local landlords is critical to moving veterans out of homelessness. These partnerships increase housing supply and secure housing units more efficiently. Once the veteran is housed, we must work to maintain the housing unit by connecting the veteran to employment opportunities, health care, legal services, and community programs.

Todd Fredricks, DO

Associate Professor of Primary Care, Medical Director CTRU

Ohio University

Todd Fredricks, DO

Associate Professor of Primary Care, Medical Director CTRU

Ohio University

What are three of the best but undervalued programs or nonprofits benefiting veterans?

This space changes a lot. There are a lot of very reputable organizations that do great work for veterans, but if I were to mention just three, I would note:

The USO: The United Service Organization has a proven track record of veterans outreach and support for families.
The Gary Sinese Foundation: Gary Sinese has been recognized as our contemporary “Bob Hope.” His foundation is very public and so the scrutiny applied to him is high. I’ve never heard a negative comment about the organization. Gary Sinese did not ask for any compensation or payment for the voice overs. We did have to ask him to do it.
The Fisher House Foundation: The Fisher House organization provides housing and services for the family members of wounded, ill, and injured veterans around the world. They rely on donations to keep their houses open and they are places of refuge for families who find themselves often rushing to a loved one’s side in a crisis.

What is the most overlooked issue that veterans face today?

I suppose it’s the effects of wars ending. When we are engaged in active conflict, the various veterans’ issues are usually at the forefront. When wars end, U.S. society often feels a need to move on from the focus of war and its consequences. This can result in a loss of support for organizations that support veterans. Wars don’t end for veterans; they just take on a different character.

With the persistent shortage of mental health resources at VA hospitals and health systems, where else can veterans find the help they need?

That depends –– under the Trump Administration, the VA was put under pressure to find accessible services for veterans if they could not provide those services in a timely manner. For veterans with insurance, they can often access private behavioral health services. For service-connected veterans, they can access VA care but the timing is dependent upon provider availability.

Telehealth access does take some of the pressure off this access issue, but the lack of behavioral health providers in the country is not just a veteran-specific problem.

What is one way local and state governments can better support their veterans?

I think strengthening legislation protecting veterans’ employment is important. This is a difficult problem because we have an all-volunteer force. Reservists deploy, and for small businesses, it can be very expensive to lose skilled employees for months to years at a time. So it is not a simple problem.

The other issue goes into the changing nature of the VA. The VA was an organization sized to deliver services to massive numbers of veterans, and that population is shrinking. I don’t work for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, but I think a reexamination of VA hospitals and overhead is needed to look for ways to save money in facilities and shift those savings into personnel and services.

Public-private partnerships (e.g. a VA wing at a private hospital facility) might yield economies of scale and avoid duplications of costs of two separate facilities.

What is one thing civilians can do to show support this Veterans Day and beyond?

Ask the veteran about their service. Thanking us for our service is nice, and a lot of us return the thanks by thanking the people who do that for supporting us. But veterans are people and it is more meaningful to ask them about what they did in the military. What was their job? Why did they join? What did they like about the service? What did they dislike? This shows true interest.

We have a serious gap between the public and their knowledge of their military. It’s important in my mind that we eliminate that gap. It takes time and a willingness to listen to the veteran once you ask those questions, but I think this means more to the veteran than being thanked.

What is the best way to prevent veteran homelessness?

Wow! If I knew the answer to that question you wouldn’t be asking that question. The problem of homelessness in general is complex. It is not a simple phenomenon. Sometimes people actually choose homelessness as a lifestyle. I know this because I have interviewed some people that fall into this group. Sometimes it’s terrible life circumstances. Sometimes there are behavioral health issues underlying the homeless situation. Sometimes its terrible financial problems. Sometimes its addiction. Sometimes it’s a combination of many factors.

So like all people who find themselves homeless, I think it’s more nuanced, and to treat it properly you need to know why the person is homeless. If it is not a willful choice, then addressing the root issue for the person is the way that you start helping that person.

It is also interesting to me that every VA has different levels of homeless population presence. So there can be community and cultural modifiers involved that need to be appreciated. It’s not my area of expertise but like all human issues, identifying the root causes of any problem for the individual usually is the best way to start a process that helps them get where they would like to be.

Methodology

For each of the 200 biggest U.S. cities, we gathered publicly available data on the factors listed in the table below.

We then grouped those factors into nine categories: Community, Support, Medical Health Care, Mental Health Care, Housing, Education and Training, Employment and Volunteering, Affordability, and Safety.

Next, we calculated weighted scores for each city in each category.

Finally, we averaged the scores for each city across all categories.

The city that earned the highest average score was ranked “Best” (No. 1), while the city with the lowest was ranked “Worst” (No. 200).

Notes:

The “Worst” among individual factors may not be No. 200 due to ties among cities.
Homelessness is a significant issue facing the veteran community. However, we could not factor in the veteran homeless rate in each city due to a lack of geographical uniformity within the data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
“Benefits Claims Assistants” include accredited attorneys, claims agents, and Veteran Service Organization (VSO) representatives.
Due to the enduring shortage of mental health personnel at VA facilities, we factored in mental health counselors that are available to the general public as an additional resource to veterans.
For “State Tax Treatment of Military Pension,” points were awarded to each city as follows:
- Exempt or no state income tax: 2 points
- Partially taxable or other special treatment: 1 point
- Fully taxable: 0 points

Metric	Weighting	Min. Value	Max. Value	Best
Community
Share of Veteran Population	3	0.81%	22.53%	Max. Value
Number of Veteran Social Groups	2	0	11	Max. Value
Support
Number of Vet Benefit Centers	2	0	7	Max. Value
VA Benefits Claims Assistants per 1,000 Veterans	2	0	28.9	Max. Value
Number of Veterans Service Organizations with Representatives	2	0	10	Max. Value
Number of USOs	1	0	9	Max. Value
Number of Military Bases Within 20 Miles	1	0	11	Max. Value
Nonprofits Serving Veterans per 1,000 Veterans	1	0	2.9	Max. Value
Medical Health Care
VA Health Facilities per 10,000 Veterans	3	0	8.4	Max. Value
VA Urgent Care Facilities per 1,000 Veterans	1	0	2.7	Max. Value
VA Emergency Care Facilities per 1,000 Veterans	2	0	3.1	Max. Value
Mental Health Care
Mental Health Counselors per 10,000 Veterans	2	0	3,223.3	Max. Value
PTSD Programs per 10,000 Veterans	3	0	2.8	Max. Value
Substance-Use Disorder Programs per 10,000 Veterans	2	0	8.4	Max. Value
VA Chaplains per 10,000 Veterans	1	0	19	Max. Value
Suicide Prevention Coordinators per 10,000 Veterans	2	0	2.8	Max. Value
Vet Centers per 10,000 Veterans	1	0	4.9	Max. Value
Housing
Housing Affordability for Veterans	3	12.6	74.6	Max. Value
Approved VA Loans in County per 1,000 Veterans	2	0	187.9	Max. Value
Education and Training
VA-Approved Schools per 10,000 Veterans	3	0	159.1	Max. Value
On-the-Job Training Opportunities per 1,000 Veterans	2	0	11.3	Max. Value
Number of VET TEC Providers	1	0	2	Max. Value
Employment and Volunteering
Veteran-Friendly Jobs per Veteran	3	0	3.6	Max. Value
Number of Veteran Job Fairs in 2023	2	0	4	Max. Value
Vet-Friendly Volunteer Opportunities per 1,000 Veterans	1	0.5	41.2	Max. Value
"The Mission Continues" Volunteer Opportunities per 10,000 Veterans	0.5	0	3.4	Max. Value
Affordability
Cost of Living Index	3	75	204	Min. Value
Median Veteran Income	2	$17,118	$89,771	Max. Value
State Tax Treatment of Military Pension	1	0	2	Max. Value
Share of Veterans Living in Poverty	2	1%	23%	Min. Value
Veteran Unemployment Rate	2	0%	29.4%	Min. Value
Duty-Free Grocery Stores (Commissaries)	0.5	0	3	Max. Value
Duty-Free Department Stores (Exchanges)	0.5	0	3	Max. Value
Number of Available Military Discounts	0.5	0	8	Max. Value
Safety
Crime Index	2	0	85	Max. Value
Natural Hazards Index	3	9	20	Min. Value
Walk Score	2	13	97	Max. Value

Sources: AreaVibes, Commissary, Exchange, Intuit Turbotax, Make the Connection, Meetup, Military Installations, National Center for Disaster Preparedness, National Labor Exchange, Neighborhood Scout, Psychology Today, Recruit Military, The Military Wallet, The Mission Continues, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, USO, Veteran.com, VolunteerMatch, and WalkScore

Why This Study Matters

Every veteran deserves a supportive environment and a home to be proud of.

Fortunately, a housing-first approach has drastically decreased the rate of veteran homelessness in the last decade. But there are many who are still struggling. More than 40,000 veterans are homeless on any given day.

Mental wellness initiatives are important, too. Vets are more likely to suffer from PTSD and suicidal thoughts.

If you are or know of a veteran in need, check out the following organizations and resources for support:

Veterans Crisis Line provides confidential support over the phone.
National Veterans Foundation has a supportive vet-to-vet lifeline to help with everything from food to PTSD counseling to employment.
Operation First Response gives personal and financial assistance to vets with disabilities.
Semper Fi & America’s Fund supplies support and wellness resources to sick and wounded veterans.
U.S. VETS provides employment, emergency housing assistance, and other resources.
USA Cares extends emergency, housing, career, and financial support.
Veterans’ Employment and Training Service is available to all veterans, service members, and military spouses.
Learn how to help homeless veterans.
Find your local VA facility.
Search for other veterans assistance resources near you.

Go out of your way to celebrate a veteran in your life this Veterans Day. Plan a fun day with Veterans Day deals and discounts. You can also help a veteran by bringing them dinner or by hooking them up with a charity lawn care service.

Main Photo Credit: Shutterstock