Let's begin a JFK moon-shot program to end homelessness among American veterans within five years, and end homelessness of any American within 10 years.
The ambitious goal of ending the plight of our homeless heroes within five years was originally proposed by Gen. Eric Shinseki, the Veterans Affairs secretary under President Obama.
Shinseki is absolutely right. A national mobilization to achieve his dream would be supported by tens of millions of men and women of faith in houses of worship throughout the nation, and tens of millions of men and women of patriotism and duty who serve our nation as veterans and members of military families.
The challenge of ending homelessness among vets will take government action at the federal, state and local levels.
Government cannot do this alone. It will take ideas from both political parties and the kind of major community outreach and patriotic partnership championed by first lady Michelle Obama. Let's mobilize private companies, faith-based groups, veterans and concerned citizens in all communities.
What better cause to unite the president and Congress! Democrats and Republicans. Liberals and conservatives. Government, private companies and individual Americans who believe more than ever, after the tragic events of recent days, that we must find ways to come together on matters of common purpose.
The winners of this challenge we should join together to wage are not only the homeless heroes we support.
Politicians from both parties will win public support from a grateful nation ready to march together for a common purpose.
Private companies that join this cause will win admiration from tens of millions of customers who care. Hollywood stars and studios that lift our national spirit as they have so many times before will find a huge audience for their generosity and good will.
Public-relations firms, advertising agencies and lobbyists that enlist their clients to this cause will reap rewards of thanks from members of the executive branch, both parties in Congress, public officials at all levels of government and tens of millions of customers and voters.
Comcast, Time Warner, Cox and all network, cable and satellite television companies would reach large audiences and generate great good will by donating public service time to those helping homeless heroes, and supporting original programming of high interest to vast numbers of viewers who care about them.
I write these words as we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, honor the 50th anniversary of the inaugural address of President Kennedy, recall the farewell address of President Eisenhower and prepare to honor President Reagan a century after his birth.
What better cause to honor them all than a promise that five years from now, no American who has worn the uniform of our country will be homeless anywhere in this land that we love, which they served?
Fifty years ago President Kennedy challenged Americans to ask what we can do for our country. He said that here on earth, God's work must truly be our own. With this standard for America, let's come together for the homeless heroes who defended America.
Rev. Dr. Wollom A. Jensen: Military Family Appreciation Week: Serving Those Who Stand And Wait
Joel John Roberts: Could iPads Help Find Pads for Homeless Persons?
"The United States has a total land area of nearly 2.3 billion acres.
Major uses in 2002 were forest-use land, 651 million acres (28.8 percent);
grassland pasture and range land, 587 million acres (25.9 percent);
cropland, 442 million acres (19.5 percent);
special uses (primarily parks and wildlife areas), 297 million acres (13.1 percent);
miscellaneous other uses, 228 million acres (10.1 percent);
and urban land, 60 million acres (2.6 percent).
Please note the last item "Urban Land". This is the land on which we live. So please notice that share that the majority of the population lives on is 2.6% of the entire land mass of the United States.
We have 27+ million unemployed people in this country, more than the entire population of Australia (22.5+ million people) yet we cannot house or feed our people without homes and food.
Require your government at every level to release viable and arable land to create self sustainable villages for those Americans that need it till they are able to move on. Instead of money give seeds and the tools to help themselves.”
Otherwise, Walk Like an Egyptian http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVrNV_5LhNE&feature=related
The Egyptians are doing it - let's do it too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVrNV_5LhNE&feature=related
Let the world see our plight, no glitz and glamour other than in gated communities.
Until you can get society to agree on a plan/policy for homeless vets, you'll never solve this problem.
If there's one good thing that came out of the GW Bush years, and further boosted by Obama's, is the increase in veterans benefits, which fortunately included benefits for homeless and unemployed veterans. The Veteran's Administration now has programs to aid homeless and unemployed veterans, but part of the problem is veterans in these circumstances not knowing these programs are available. The second problem part is the bureaucracy involved slows the process. The third broken spoke is the business community not stepping up and providing good paying employment to those who have sacrificed so the free enterprise system can work. And families of the veteran need to realize there are injuries inside your veteran that you can't see, family counseling can be an important component.
Lastly, this is a pack on the veteran's back that he/she hasn't been trained to carry. Many veterans need to be integrated with the VA, and encouraged that their problems are not unique or a sign of personal weakness, only then will they be able to discover the will to endure the bureaucratic maze required to successfully re-integrate into productive society. It's a struggle, and some don't make it through the first time around. It takes patience, fortunately the VA has plenty. Do you?
I thought what he was doing fit well with your article. I don't mean to spam or anything.