KENTUCKY — According to greendoors.org, about 1.5 million veterans are considered at-risk of homelessness. At risk is defined as being below the poverty level and paying over 50% of household income on rent.

The average home mortgage rate has nearly doubled in the last year, and the sky high housing prices — along with a shortage of homes available — have left millions of Americans struggling to make ends meet, including our nation’s veterans.

This Veterans Day, there are at least 32,000 veterans without a permanent roof over their head per the latest data from Department of Veterans Affairs, a number that has declined in recent years, but Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough still believes there’s more work to be done.

Cassie Semyon of our Washington D.C. bureau recently talked with the secretary about the problem, and what can be done to help those who served our country and are now without a home.

You can watch the full In Focus Kentucky segment in the player above.