More female veterans now homeless

SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- More female veterans are becoming homeless across the United States, the Department of Veterans Affairs says

The current estimate is about 6,000 nationwide. Jennifer Eaves, a VA social worker in Utah for the past 10 months, told The Salt Lake Tribune she has found around a dozen in that state.

Eaves, a veteran of the Navy, said many homeless women who have served in the military do not realize they are eligible for help from the VA, Some who do are reluctant to ask for help.

"Women are more likely to leave the military with a few less reasons to trust the system than men," Eaves said. "It's still true today that women suffer from humiliation, intimidation and sexual harassment."

Deborah Caldwell, 29, who served in the Air Force, found out she was eligible for benefits only because of a social worker's mistake when she and her three children checked into a Salt Lake City shelter. She noticed the social worker had not checked the veteran's box on the form, pointed that out and then was referred to the VA and Eaves.