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Over 1/4 Of USA Homeless Are Veterans

OVER 1/4 OF U.S. HOMELESS ARE VETERANS

Lonnie Bowen Jr. Was once a social worker, but for 17 years the Vietnam War veteran has slept on the streets off and on as he's battled substance abuse and mental health problems.
Ref. https://deseretnews.com/dn/view/1,1249,...25815,00.html

Veterans Homeless USA Over

This is extremely pathetic and sad. Why is it that not enough resources are given to help these people? What caught my attention was:

So they are sending all these people to fight wars and then when they return they leave them pretty much on their own without proper mental health or proper economic help. This is worrisome.

Over 1/4 Of USA Homeless Are Veterans History & Civil Business Politics

I also think this is wrong. I saw this in our paper yesterday as well--we lost 2 soldiers in Iraq yesterday from Alaska. The good news is that we also have a unit that has been over for about 15 months and they have started coming home. We lost a lot of soldiers from this group....it has been hard.

Then you see something like this and I just can't see how this happens--how does a country let something like this slip through the cracks when they have given all they have, next to their life itself and they are living in shelters and on the streets? I don't understand that and it breaks my heart!

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Young veterans become new face of the homeless

Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans join the older crowd at Stand Down for the Homeless, the three-day effort aimed at helping former service members leave the streets. Ref. Source 7

Veterans Homeless USA Over

Many people do not understand just how much of a problem this is. As a combat veteran I see a lot of things from a view point that others can not. Having a job and a home is a great thing but some just can not cope. Some do not feel safe behind four walls and prefer a tent now. Many can not hold a job because they are trying to cope with PTSD or other mental illnesses.

If the veteran is still in the military there are all sorts of options for them to get the help they need. Once they are out of the service the VA hospitals are supposed to take over that care of the veterans. The problem is that Congress has for the past decades cut the VA spending. Forcing them to close VA hospitals and cut staff. I remember a time where there were five VA hospitals in my state. Now there are three and they are full of veterans trying to seek treatment. I have heard of many getting tired of sitting and waiting for treatment so they just leave and do not come back. Having their paperwork sit in a committee for 18-30 months just to be denied because they forgot to dot a I or cross a t just to do it all over is a pain.

I have helped a lot of homeless veterans when I can and I know the paper work you have to fill out with the VA to get the help you need is very complicated and you need a specialist to represent you just to get seen. Then you get a letter in the mail denying your claim because you did not show up for a appointment just to get the appointment paper work the next day. This has been going on for years and the political red tape is not making it any easier. Sure you see articles of how the VA and Congress is making it easier for veterans but so far we have not seen it happen.

Over 1/4 Of USA Homeless Are Veterans

I think many times it is the mental issues that plage a veteran other than the physical. It is really hard to explain to someone that you still pour sand out your boots when you take them off. Or that when you hear a helicopter you have a panic attack.

I don't know the scientific explanation of this but trauma from combat lasts long, long after the fight is over.

Over 1/4 USA Homeless Veterans

Even if we are talking about mental issues, how can be that one of the most rich countries in the world is not able to provide the right care for veterans? I don't want to sound bad, but it's really a shame and the whole issue needs to be reviewed and solved. These people gave their very best to protect their country. They deserve so much more.

Over 1/4 USA Homeless Veterans Politics Business Civil & History

I know that some of the veteran are homeless because they just can not cope with some aspects of society anymore. They prefer to be out on their own and not in a home. They can not hold a job because they can not stand to be around some people. It is really hard to explain some of this as you have to see it and talk to them in person to just see what I am talking about. That is if you can get them to talk. Many veterans will not talk to civilians because they just do not understand and they usually are there to take something away from them.