Unmasking unfamiliar faces of homelessness: Military women and their children

Statistics reveal that "women and families represent the fastest growing groups of our national homeless population.  Approximately half of the homeless population are families with children. Among homeless families, 90 percent are female-headed.”  The risk of women veterans becoming homeless is four times greater, and rising, than for male veterans; affecting them and their children.  Neither of these demographics should be acceptable.  Today, however, we are taking a glimpse at our homeless female veterans and their families. Our guest is Deirdre Burton.  Major Burton served her country as a member of the United States Army Reserves with a military career that covers nearly 31 years. She is a veteran of the first Persian Gulf War and her military resume of service includes administrative specialist, squad leader, instructor/course manager, and currently, O.T./behavior health specialist. Deirdre completed her final ten and a half month deployment to Germany in February 2015.  A dedicated Christian, Deirdre is the founder and director of the Sister Friends Fellowship, a non-profit women’s ministry, established in 2002, with a mission to connect women to God and one another.    She is a graduate of Indiana University, with both Associate and Baccalaureate degrees in Occupational Therapy, and a Masters of Art in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Christian Theological Seminary. She is currently a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate and maintains a small private counseling practice.