Sunday, June 6, 2010

Homeless Vets!


Even though there is a great number of veterans that don’t have health insurance, housing, or good incomes a bigger number of them are living with lingering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse, which are compounded by a lack of family and social support networks.

VA estimates that 107,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. Over the course of a year, approximately twice that many experience homelessness. Only eight percent of the general population can claim veteran status, but nearly one-fifth of the homeless population are veterans. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) states the nation’s homeless veterans are predominantly male, with roughly five percent being female. The majorities of them are single; come from urban areas; and suffer from mental illness, alcohol and/or substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders. About one-third of the adult homeless populations are veterans.
America’s homeless veterans have served in World War II, the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Iraq (OEF/OIF), and the military’s anti-drug cultivation efforts in South America. Nearly half of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam era. Two-thirds served our country for at least three years, and one-third were stationed in a war zone.

Lou Barletta, mayor of Hazleton stated, "One out of four homeless men is a veteran that is sleeping in hallways, doorways or in boxes, It's unacceptable. The federal government needs to do more."

According the VA that statistics for 2009 are:
23% of the homeless population are veterans
33% of the male homeless population are veterans
47% served Vietnam-era
17% served post-Vietnam
15% served pre-Vietnam
67% served three or more years
33% were stationed in war zone
25% have used VA homeless services
85% completed high school/GED, compared to 56% of non-veterans
89% received an honorable discharge
79% reside in central cities
16% reside in suburban areas
5% reside in rural areas
76% experience alcohol, drug or mental health problems
46% are white males, compared to 34% of non-veterans
46% are age 45 or older, compared to 20% non-veterans

Where do veterans go if those are facing homelessness? With the Governor Veteran Outreach shutdown I can’t see the career link helping them out. I met a veteran that was from the Vietnam era. He served his country and fought in the jungle of Vietnam. He told me stories of how difficult it was to get a job once he came back. I asked him if he has visited his VA medical center and he responded, yes but he has to wait for his appointments that might last more than a couple months. I then asked him where does he live and to my surprise he told me he travels in the woods around the PA area and lives in the woods. He told me he feels safe in there since that is how he knows how to survive. I thought to myself like I stated before, A veteran will survive and fight to survive no matter what conditions. I offered him suggestions for services; I can only hope he acts on them.

I think of that vet and ask where the Government is to help this man and veterans like him. Granted decreasing the number of homeless Vets by 30% in two years is pretty good. However, 107,000 Veterans sleeping on the street on any given night is 107,000 too many. More work has got to be done, and we must look to the VA and our Congressional leaders to insure this mission is accomplished. If not, they must be held accountable.

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