Right now - ABC This Weeks with Christiane Amanpour about homeless vets

[csziggy]

No link - it is being shown right now on broadcast ABC. Pretty good coverage of the problems of returning vets and how so many of them end up homeless.

[UTUSN]

1. Just met (another) one

He's staying/working at a bar as a security guard. He's a walking tragedy: Orphaned as a kid, raised in foster homes, other family died in a car wreck. He's got scars up one arm from Iraq. Over the years I had contact with several, but this was just mind boggling. He said that he's supposed to get VA, 100%, in the Spring, but who knows since a lot of times these dudes don't know stuff.

[old mark]

3. Sometimes people in his situation don't have a lot of understanding of how

to get the system to provide the help they need, even such a thing as getting a pension from the VA or some kind of disability. If you can, I suggest investigating local Vets groups and refering them to this guy...I am sure they have much experience with this...too much.

It is a disgrace that our vets have to go through all the shit to get what they are legally entitled to-it is the same with trying to get disability. No one in the government gives a shit.
Thanks for being interested in this guy - please continue if you can.


mark

[OneGrassRoot]

4. Any recommendations for this person?

http://www.wishadoo.com/listing/view/id_72/title_Need-fiancial-assistance/

I am going to call 211 on her behalf but that's a good idea to contact a veterans group to perhaps help, even though this isn't a disability-related situation.

Thanks. :)

[old mark]

11. I'm not familiar with many current veterans groups, but I am sure there are many

listed online, with various concentrations.

We are currently helping a friend with re-applying for disability-he was thrown off after an interview, we think because he is gay and the worker does not like that. He has seizure disorder so extreme he breaks bones when seizing, has not been able to work for years, and his memory and concentration is poor after years of heavy medication for this.
Best to find some local or regional group if you can - some problems need a person on the scene to deal with the bureaucracy.

mark

[butterfly77]

6. And the people who wanted them to go over there..

and push for the war,don't want to pay for their benefits...USA!USA!USA!!!

[old mark]

12. In some cases, they don't want people to ever apply for them...costs money, you know?

My SIL's dad died on the waiting list to be admitted to a VA hospital...we think that was the plan all along after years of postponements and stalling.
Your government is not your friend.

mark

[butterfly77]

13. They sit on fox..

and talk about how the public needs to pay for or send armor to the soldiers which I could never understand how the public should have to pay for armor when bush/cheney the teabaggers/republiCONS wanted this war and that is what tax dollars are for.

They wanted the war so they should be paying for it.They really have some nerve to say that they don't want to pay taxes when they are doing all of the spending by creating more wars and paying off,criminal hand picked leaders all over the world.

[jwirr]

7. Vietnam vets had to create their own organization to help each other

Is there such an organization for the vets from Iraq and Afghanistan?

[pinboy3niner]

9. Yes--they created a group modeled on Vietnam Veterans of America

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
http://iava.org/

[jwirr]

10. Good. That should help with situations like this. I knew about the Vietnam

one because we had a friend holed up on a isolated farm and none of us could even talk to him. We called them and they came out to talk him out and get him help. Today he is doing fine. This link is one everyone should know.

[Bigmack]

2. When are people going to understand...

that this country really doesn't give a shit about the troops or the vets. If they did, they wouldn't send them to the shitholes of the world for the crassest political/economic motives.

This fucking country makes too many veterans.

[jwirr]

8. And they would not be sending them back to the same hell holes

time after time.

[divine_truine]

5. I don't get why pres. obama hasn't tried to address this problem!...but then again, this greedy 'ol

...party has been obstructing on everything from iraq/afghanistan G.I. Bill to 9-11-2001 first responders health bill as well as everything else. I ask all of my good American brethren: in this time, why vote republican? when it's obvious who has who's best interests in mind when it's all said and done. Look at the voting record! Observe the behavior of john boner & mitch mcconnell the last two years on both floors of each house! It's been an embarassing 10 years watching especially the republicans (& some democrats) cower to bush and obama when it comes to sending our troops into WARS BASED on LIES! When will it all end?

WITH A WASTED BLOATED MILITARY BUDGET, IT'S A NATIONAL TRAVESTY WE ARE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION! WE SHOULD NOT HAVE VETS WHO ARE HOMELESS!

The network msm is partly responsible for not covering this ever-growing problem repeatedly because of their f#cking ratings or their corporate masters (troll murdock et al) who control the script when the cameras are on.

MISSING TRILLIONS! FROM DoD/PENTAGON BUDGETS AND WE HAVE HOMELESS VETS? ARE YOU F#CKING KIDDING ME? THIS IS SERIOUSLY A DISGUSTING MATTER TO BE DISCUSSING THE DAY AFTER xmas.

merry f#cking xmas!

Again, I ask that the GodDess of Liberty & Justice to intervene in this matter because we have cowardly reps/senators in the congress who care not for our veterans but will gladly kick them around like a political football to score their cheap-ass points for their corporate masters. DAMN YOU! those in the congress who are enabling the problem of veterans who are homeless after they putting their lives on the line to save your miserable asses!

[butterfly77]

14. Just went to abc to see video..

and I remember seeing many stories about vets being homeless throughout the bush years,among other issues affecting us all in this country.

I notice that now they the media now decide to pound us with everything that is wrong,when people were writing and shouting about these issues for years they chose to ignore.

Now,that things are affecting their friends,families and themselves they now try to point out what is wrong when everything is out of control. Just like CONS make a problem and once it gets out of control blame the Democrats for everything...