Veterans More Likely To Be Homeless, Study Says

www.usatoday.com:

Military veterans are much more likely to be homeless than other Americans, according to the government's first in-depth study of homelessness among former servicemembers.

About 16% of homeless adults in a one-night survey in January 2009 were veterans, though vets make up only 10% of the adult population.

Read the whole story: www.usatoday.com

Comments

[kiksadi50]

01:35 PM on 10/31/2011

by the way R.Reagan fans, this disenfranchisement of War Vets began during 'the gippers' watch.I am so sick of hearing repub. & wack jobs like Palin go on and on about our glorious troops & then vote to cut their benefits. My dad had the bills that helped him to buy a home and go to school when he returned from WWII (where he almost died).Reagan took most of his benefits away from him including much needed medical coverage for chronic critical medical problems.Every time herman Cain kicks dirt on the poor & homeless & tells them to get a life I want to scream.My husband found my brother (after a 2 yr. search) living on the streets of Nevada, sleeping in shelters when there was space.My husband said the conditions these people lived in,& the number of homeless in this one area made him cry.My brother was living on 2 dollars a day while looking for work.He was too ashamed to ask for help.The GOP stinks.

[Eve PurvisAllen]

12:29 PM on 10/31/2011

When I returned from the Gulf War in 1994, I was homeless with four children. I brought a home a year later with the help of the V.A.. However, as I began to deal with PTSD and Military Sexual Trauma issues, I lost my home and became homeless again--The V.A. did nothing to help me when I lost my home and got worse. I moved my kids to California, in 2004 with my four children, in which I started getting most of my disability compensation, but then they said I made too much and lost my HUD Voucher and I am barely able to hold on to paying the cost of high rent in the San Francisco Bay Area. My point is that although there is help, underlying all of all Veteran issues like mine, have been a series of health issues that (I am) are still not being compensated for. My husband has to take off 2 to 3 days a week to care for me, as I fight for the unexplained illnesses and chronic pain disorder I have on a day to day basis for over a decade. The care of health, mental and family must go hand in hand in caring for veterans, especially the OEF/OIF Veterans that are now returning. We still have a long way to go.

[AccezzTom]

12:00 PM on 10/31/2011

The United States Government makes real sure soldiers receive everything they need to serve in the Armed Forces of America. Once that soldier is discharged, they enter the realm of the Veterans Administration and services become another matter entirely. Yet the United States Government is still responsible for the Veterans who have served this nation, as well as every citizen of America who has benefited from that Veteran's service to this nation.

It makes me sick to think of Veterans with Disabilities, living on the streets. What happened to all of the Pride in Service, Veterans Administration - A United States Government Agency? What Happened? What happened to making sure that soldier has everything they need?

Yes - the VA *does* provide some services, some of which are rather excellent. Yet here we have homeless veterans for crying out loud. YOU sent them to war, United States Government. YOU trained them. YOU are responsible for them!

Get your buttocks in proverbial gear, United States Government. If the United States Government can spend Billions and Billions of dollars on, 'Overseas Operations,' it sure as hell can spend Billions on Housing, Food, Clothing, and Medical Care for Veterans!

[TruelyFedUp]

10:39 AM on 10/31/2011

With our government controlling 30% of our land and the Pentagon "losing" 25% of its massive budget each year we obviously have plenty of resources to provide free self sustaining eco villages throughout the country for folks to live in. These can be built and run by the residents themselves and should be examples of ecological efficiency which would include common buildings such as communal kitchens, laundries, cafeteria, library, clinic, schools for the kids and trade school for adults plus a business center. Housing can be minimal but very comfortable. Organic gardens and farming can provide healthy food that is grown by the residents. A 2-4 hour per day community work schedule would handle the maintaining of buildings and the other activities that keep the community sparkling and well organized. Simple, right?

[hawaiianstile]

06:33 AM on 10/31/2011

when you join the millitary you become government property. a tool for them to use as they wish. why sign away your life to a country that never cared about you to begin with?

[eljefefx]

05:12 PM on 11/01/2011

Sign up and find out. We are waiting.

[Garrett Raby]

11:11 PM on 10/30/2011

I dont mind helping out to these other countries, when we cant help out our own people something is wrong! especialy our vets. It just goes to show what our goverment really thinks of our troops and vets.

[Koeiseun]

10:07 PM on 10/30/2011

Not surprising.....most had little or no skills prior to enlisting....

[Kim Moore2011]

09:04 PM on 10/30/2011

Shame on all of us to treat our military heroes this way.

[wayne the pain]

08:47 PM on 10/30/2011

Support our troops with your little plastic magnet on your car! After they have been used supporting our corporate driven foreign policy to hell with them, they are on their own! Is this a great country or what?

[maxfax]

03:36 PM on 10/30/2011

Given the economy, the returning Vets and Vets aging into retirement, this number is sure to skyrocket.

[kwright]

01:33 PM on 10/30/2011

The way we treat our Veterans is a national disgrace. It's nothing new, and, regardless of anyone's political views, these Vets deserve better.