One day a year we say thank you

[Shaun @ Tru6]

but otherwise, we either don't think about the huge population of homeless veterans or how the VA is in shambles and recent legislation was to make veteran's experience with the VA even harder. Many of us sneer at vets because we we just see a homeless guy. We don't consider they could be mentally ill...just that they are homeless and sucking up our tax dollars in some way or just want a handout.

Something to think about today. Easy enough to wake up tomorrow and forget...hey, there's a new Starbucks cup to be angry about.

I have understood how and why we treat our veterans so poorly.

From Veteran Statistics | Homeless Veterans | Veterans Organizations

Veterans & Homelessness

Number of veterans in the U.S. as of 2014: approximately 22.5 million

Increasing numbers of returning military personnel: according to the Mass. Dept. of Veterans’ Services, approximately 31,000 service members have returned to the Commonwealth since Sept. 11, 2001.

Between 529,000 and 840,000 veterans are homeless at some time during the year.

On any given night, more than 300,000 veterans are living on the streets or in shelters in the U.S.

Approx. 33% of homeless males in the U.S. are veterans.

Veterans are twice as likely as other Americans to become chronically homeless.

Veterans represent 11% of the adult civilian population, but 26% of the homeless population, according to the Homeless Research Institute (2007).

Veterans are more at risk of becoming homeless than non-veterans

The number of homeless Vietnam-era veterans, male and female, is greater than the number of soldiers who died during the war.

[tevake]

Thanks Shaun for posting that info about some of the challenges in the Vet community.

Homelessness , mental health needs, the sad inefficientcy of the V A. And other factors are all issues that contribute to the difficulties facing veterans attempting to reintegrate into civilian life.

I know from posts here that some pelicans have found ways to help.
There are many opportunities to help out, and much need for that help thruout the year.
Let me encourage others here with time or resources to share to look into ways to do that. Even as the good thoughts brought on by Veterans Day are taken over by the cares of day to day living.

Cheers Richard

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Good, thoughtful post Richard, thank you. I have written to every congressman through their web site asking why more isn't being done. 12 responses, all of them boilerplate. It's a national disgrace and 99% of the population either doesn't know or doesn't care.

There is no investigative journalism by the media, or damn little. Jon Stewart is the only media personality to consistently bring the VA issue to the surface for years.

Army Times: Jon Stewart vs. VA: How TV host raged against red tape

We are country with so much and all we do is complain and point fingers when there are very real, substantive problems faced by some of our best citizens.

One day a year we say thank you and then vets are swept under the rug again on the 12th.

[billybek]

I was just watching the local news that was covering the Remembrance Day ceremony. The new minister of veterans affairs made an announcement that the new government would hire 400 new government employees to help get services to those that require help.
Hmm.....