Study: 1 Out of 4 Homeless Are Veterans

[nosmokes]

Yeah we're supporting our troops alright. From rushing them through training to sending them off to do a job w/ inadequate equipment w/o the proper skills to do the job they're being asked to do they're still successful in the starkest of military terms, gaining ground, killing the enemy. But we all know that for Iraq (where we shouldn't even be) and Afghanistan that's not gonna *win* the war. Especially since no one has ever fessed up to what the actual point of all this is. Oh, and I do wish it was as simple as one agenda at play but I believe that the case is far worse than that and that it's entirely possible some of the ultimate goals may even be at odd w/ each other. But for the immediate problem at hand that's neither here nor there. The fact is if Congress isn't gonna have the goddamn balls to get our men and women out of Dubya's rodeo, then at least put conditions on some of those fucking billions of dollars they keep giving him while they kiss his stinking ass and *DEMAND* that the GIs be taken of before, during and after their time in uniform.
original-sfchronicle

Study: 1 Out of 4 Homeless Are Veterans

By KIMBERLY HEFLING, Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Washington (AP)- Veterans make up one in four homeless people in the United States, though they are only 11 percent of the general adult population, according to a report to be released Thursday.

And homelessness is not just a problem among middle-age and elderly veterans. Younger veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are trickling into shelters and soup kitchens seeking services, treatment or help with finding a job.

The Veterans Affairs Department has identified 1,500 homeless veterans from the current wars and says 400 of them have participated in its programs specifically targeting homelessness.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness, a public education nonprofit, based the findings of its report on numbers from Veterans Affairs and the Census Bureau. 2005 data estimated that 194,254 homeless people out of 744,313 on any given night were veterans.

In comparison, the VA says that 20 years ago, the estimated number of veterans who were homeless on any given night was 250,000.

Some advocates say the early presence of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan at shelters does not bode well for the future. It took roughly a decade for the lives of Vietnam veterans to unravel to the point that they started showing up among the homeless. Advocates worry that intense and repeated deployments leave newer veterans particularly vulnerable.

"We're going to be having a tsunami of them eventually because the mental health toll from this war is enormous," said Daniel Tooth, director of veterans affairs for Lancaster County, Pa.

While services to homeless veterans have improved in the past 20 years, advocates say more financial resources still are needed. With the spotlight on the plight of Iraq veterans, they hope more will be done to prevent homelessness and provide affordable housing to the younger veterans while there's a window of opportunity.

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complete article here

[asdjrocky]

1. 4 out of 4 homeless

will be cold and hungry tonight.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

2. Calling the MSM!!! Support the troops and find them housing.