“New Generation of Homeless Vets Emerge”, Associated Press.
This article states that 336,000 veterans were homeless at some point in 2006. Of that number, 1,500 are veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. There is the fear among some that there will be significant increases in these numbers as the wars continue–and not enough is done to prevent it.
The three principal causes given for veterans becoming homeless are mental illness, financial difficulties, and the inability to find affordable housing. It is also mentioned that the Iraq war may accrue even higher figures due to multiple deployments which can prompt the various stress disorders to show up earlier than they are usually seen.
Soldier On is a non-profit corporation that is staffed by homeless veterans and operates a facility at the Veterans Medical Center in Leeds, MA. Soldier On’s president, Jack Downing, is quoted as saying, “It’s a disgrace. You have served your country, you get damaged, and you come back and we don’t take care of you. And we make you prove that you need our services.”
I admit to my ignorance of this topic before reading the article today. Now that I’m aware of it, I’m not sure what–if anything–I can do to help alleviate the problem. My hope is, by making others informed, perhaps then we can make a difference, together.
