There Is A Problem And The Va Is Not Stepping Up To The Plate To Address It.

[ranger11bv]

It should be obvious by now that our homeless veterans are not being served well at all. If the homeless veterans were properly cared for by our country, the total homeless population would fall by more than 40 percent over night.

Homeless services would then have sufficient funding to move many of the rest of the homeless off the streets into transitional housing with services that bring them back into the working population. It would be a dream come true. If only our country would step up to the plate, homelessness in our country would be virtually eliminated. If only….

Lets Summarize the Homeless Veteran Situation.

750,000 total homeless count in U.S

400,000 veterans are homeless at some time in a year

200,000 veterans homeless in any one night

27% of our male U.S. population are veterans but:

43% of all homeless males are veterans – why?

7688 beds funded by the VA for homeless veterans

192,312 sleeping elsewhere – shelters, grates, creekbeds, back alleys. We have Heroes sleeping on sidewalks in every big city.

The VA says homelessness is not related to military service, but:

Veterans are twice as likely to be homeless than civilians

You may think that homeless veterans served poorly in military, but:

95% of homeless vets have honorable discharges

The VA claims it has the largest network of homeless assistance programs in the country, but:

Total VA funding is only $1.37 per homeless vet per day.

VA funded beds provide for only 1 of every 26 homeless vets

VA funds only 7688 beds for 200,000 homeless veterans on any given night of the year.

Current (2007) grants cover only 1 bed per 192 mentally ill homeless veterans, and allocates only 14 cents a day per mentally ill veteran. Fifteen states get none of these grant monies, 15 more get grants for one organization in the state, and 20 get the bulk of the funding.

The VA announced a 20% reduction in homeless vets over the last 6 years, but failed to say it was due to the way they count them. The number they reported hasn’t changed in the last four years. During the same period, more than 23% of our Vietnam vets died.

The mix of homeless veterans has changed in the last 9 years

1997 2006

Korea 1o% 4% almost gone

Vietnam 42% 39% dying out

Gulf War 10% 16% rapidly increasing

Our Korean veterans are getting old and dying out

Our Gulf War veterans are increasing rapidly

Our Vietnam veterans have the largest homeless rate by far.

Fact: If our country stepped up to the plate and provided for our homeless veterans, the homeless population would fall instantly by 43 percent.

Note: To find all of the more than 85 Homeless Veterans articles here: http://oldtimer.wordpress.com/category/homeless-vets/

From: Larry Scott, VA Watchdog dot Org

Edited December 23, 2010 by ranger11bv

[Notorious Kelly]

I did an experiment with homelessness in 2005-2006.

First living in a car in Anchorage, then headed to the Homeless Mecca: San Francisco to slog thru veterans and homeless services.

What an eye-opener

Inefficiency, favoritism, politics, lack of oversight and downright corruption are woven throughout social service programs.

There is a cottage industry that feeds on the homeless and poor- food pantries, shelters, jobs programs etc.

There are many homeless who won't stay at shelters because of the restrictions- must be in at 7 pm and can't leave until 6 am, only 1 bag allowed, etc.

There are also dedicated workers who truly care but have limited options and a crushing case load.

Photos and a brief synopsis of my experiences here:

Copy and Paste this URL

http://www.myspace.com/notoriouskelly/photos/albums/album/707605#mssrc=SitesPhotos_SP_AlbumCover_ViewAlbum

Edited December 23, 2010 by Notorious Kelly

[john999]

The American people say they support vets, but they vote for people who want to cut the budget and shrink government. The first to be cut are benefits for the poor, homeless,children and the sick and disabled. That is because they don't vote and don't have money to contribute to politicians. In my state our new governor wants to cut benefits to the unemployeed. The governor elect is a well known thief, and should be in jail for stealing from medicare. Florida is teaming with homeless vets. They often sleep in the woods in tents.

[Pete53]

Many of the hard core homeless Veterans prefer it but I believe that the VA should provide shelter that treats homeless Veterans and homeless Veterans with families to clean shelter and decent food and a track to getting their own place. I am pretty sure that for a relatively small investment foreclosed apartments could establish a safe environment and an opportunity for homeless and down and out Veterans to get Medical Treatment and assistance to either obtain service connection which I believe many could with an address and decent representation. They should also get some sort of pension and walking around money till they get on their feet.