Veterans are 15% of the Homeless Population

[babylonsister]

http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4624

Veterans are 15% of the Homeless Population
by: Richard Allen Smith
Thu Feb 10, 2011 at 13:14:09 PM EST


No jobs bill, no Veterans relief bill from the new Congress. Instead, the new majority has spent time on asking for a refund from the United Nations, a DOA repeal of a health care law that helps Veterans, and restricting the rights of rape victims while Veterans are disproportionately represented amongst America's homeless:

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.

More than 75,000 veterans were living on the streets or in a temporary shelter that night. In that year, 136,334 veterans spent at least one night in a homeless shelter - a count that did not include homeless veterans living on the streets.

I'm not saying the new majority is responsible for Vets being homeless. But certainly this is a much more worthwhile and urgent cause than the political theater in which they have engaged thus far.

[midnight]

1. A house and a job should be waiting for these folks.....

[maryf]

4. For all folks!!

and housing subsidies are being cut.

[unhappycamper]

2. It's been this way as long as I can remember.

:(

[handmade34]

3. no one should be homeless in this country

there is NO excuse for this

[rasputin1952]

5. Called on when needed, forgotten when the necessity is gone...

One would think that R's, especially the Chickenhawks, would think of the sacrifice these men and women endure, so they didn't have to serve. To treat these men and women as mere chattel is beyond the pale, but historically speaking, it's the way it's always been...:(

[Eedjee]

6. The wingnuts HATE the troops.

I described in a previous thread, my experience as a homeless female Vet. And how the VA healthcare system got me off the street and back with my family. But the Randy Ayn wingnuts hate government healthcare, because as one ultra far right radio talker yelled, it's akin to the Soviet Union, Adolph Hitler and Pol Pot (for some reason.) That radio talker needs someone to tell him there are meds for that........

[old mark]

7. Sadly, this has been long ignored. I recall reading that some homeless today are Korean War era vets

and I KNOW many Vietnam era vets who suffer early death and alcohol and drug problems. A buddy died of alcohol related cancer several years ago. He was a Marine and served 2 tours in Vietnam. He was n his early 50's when he died, living in a basement and supported by his parents.


mark

[NYC_SKP]

8. Inexcusable. Thank you for this post, K and R. nt.

[w8liftinglady]

9. Thank you for posting this.Time to remind my readers of how we support our veterans

as they wave their f*cking flags and turn their backs.

[dmr]

10. I got a 'page not found' from your link

It takes me to your site, but the site says 'page not found'.

:hi:

[w8liftinglady]

11. lol..the site has changed.. thanks for showing me!

[pinto]

12. Kick

:kick:

[dmr]

13. Kick

[11 Bravo]

14. Repubs regard vets exactly as they do a fetus.

Once you're out of the womb or out of the service ... fuck off, you're on your own.

[RandomThoughts]

15. They been saying that to me for a long time. although not about Republicans

Considering there policies of patriot act, and spy on your neighbor got people to be vigilanties and ignore concepts of justice, and attack innocent people.

Including my father years ago.

They got nothing, and why would I need them, although they may be part of the group to send me the beer and travel money correction.

The Princess Bride - Hello My Name Is Inigo Montoya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6m7NR6iYjg

[zackvs]

16. wow

wow, i had no idea about this