Island County will join with all Washington counties in the creation of regional coalitions to address a rising population of veterans in crisis.

The number of veterans in crisis will continue to rise, according Island County Veteran Services Coordinator Gerald Pfannenstiel.

Approximately 26 percent of post- 9/11 veterans have a service-connected disability, compared to 14 percent of total veterans, Pfannenstiel said.

Veterans ages 18 to 30 are more than twice as likely to be homeless compared with nonveterans of the same age. In addition, the number of homeless female veterans has increased 141 percent between 2006 and 2010.

“As a result of the myriad of challenges already here and/or on the immediate horizon, we must be compelled to meet these challenges with as much firepower as we possibly can; we owe them that much,” Pfannenstiel told commissioners last week.

The local coalition will comprise Island, San Juan, Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish and King counties.

Island County has the largest veteran population per capita in the state.