Sponsored content by Humana.
Transitioning from active-duty service to civilian life isn’t always a smooth landing. For many, it can feel like an impossible solo mission. Memories from deployment can surface out of nowhere. Coping with physical injuries or invisible wounds can make daily life more difficult. On top of this, reconnecting with people who haven’t shared those experiences can feel isolating, even when surrounded by others.
For some veterans, it only takes a few setbacks, such as a missed paycheck, an untreated health issue, or a strained relationship, for stability to unravel. Without the proper support, even the strongest can find themselves without a stable home or a reliable meal. Too often, the same communities they once protected pass by without realizing the struggle unfolding in front of them.
This is the reality facing tens of thousands of veterans across the country. It’s why Humana and its partners are stepping up, not just with words, but with action.
Get the Facts
We can’t fix what we don’t understand. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), more than 32,000 veterans in America are homeless on any given night.
And it’s not just housing. About 1 in 9 working-age veterans faces food insecurity, according to Feeding America. That struggle often extends to their families. According to Blue Star Families, 14% of enlisted, active-duty households reported facing difficulty putting food on the table and needing to rely on food bank donations to feed their families.
These numbers aren’t just statistics. They’re people’s lives.
The Pillars of Successful Intervention
Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness can call or visit their local VA Medical Center (VAMC) and ask for a homeless coordinator, which is a critical resource. But real change takes more than one resource. It takes a network.
That’s why Humana partnered with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) to launch Uniting for Veterans, a nationwide initiative tackling food insecurity and homelessness head-on. The program connects veterans to resources that support their overall well-being.
And the impact? It’s real. In the past year, the VFW and Humana have provided more than 800,000 meals and 325 nights of housing for veterans in need. Since the program’s launch, they’ve delivered over 6.4 million meals to food-insecure veterans and their families across the country.
“Veterans are accustomed to working within tightly bonded communities,” Michael Figlioli, Director of the National Veterans Service at VFW, told We Are The Mighty. “When you transition out of service, however, your structure and expectations don’t always translate to the civilian world, which is why having a support system of people who understand veterans is comforting and more likely to result in assistance for those in need.”
The Connection to Mental Health
Years of training can build resilience, pride, and independence. But they can also make it hard to ask for help. And that’s a problem, because challenges like PTSD, depression, and anxiety are closely linked to homelessness and food insecurity.
Bethany Davis, MD, a family medicine physician at CenterWell Senior Primary Care, knows this firsthand. She served for seven years as an active-duty physician in the U.S. Army and now cares for seniors in Clarksville, Tennessee, a city with a large veteran population.
“Any provider who takes care of veterans needs to have an understanding of the stress that service members and their family members endure and appreciate how that can affect their physical and mental health,” she said.
That’s why programs like Uniting for Veterans matter. They’re run by people who understand and know how to help.
“I know that it may feel scary for veterans to open up and share concerns,” Davis said, “but I promise that there is help available and that programs like Uniting for Veterans are run by people at the VFW and Humana who truly care and understand what veterans are experiencing.”
Conquering through Collaboration
From the doctor’s office to the VFW to mission-driven companies like Humana, it’s critical that all members of the community show veterans that they appreciate their service and sacrifice by providing necessary support.
“I cannot emphasize enough the interconnectedness of these issues: from mental health to homelessness to food insecurity,” said Cara Brown, Director of Key Relationships for Humana’s MarketPoint. “At Humana, we believe every veteran deserves not just care, but a life filled with purpose, connection, and dignity. Through programs like Uniting for Veterans, we’re building a brighter future where those who have sacrificed so much can enjoy the health, community, and peace of mind they’ve truly earned.”
For more information on how Humana is supporting veterans, visit Humana’s veteran community webpage.
