I saw a guy a couple of years ago with a sign that said "Vietnam Vet - please help" - he couldn't have been a day over 25

DD214 proves most everything.
The Viet Vets is a testimate to this countries unified inability to understand who is to blame for what. .
They were not hired , the military had a secret code on the paper even if they had a honorable Discharge.
I found out years latter why Boeing would not hire me.
The new batch was not drafted, they wanted to be lifers, and the military cut short of cash has sent them home with no recourse.No benefits . Nothing to put towards retirement.No way to transfer . Pretty sad.
Now a bunch of guys returning mid to late 20s maybe 30 looking for work.
Its not there .

+1
We are blessed. I can't feel anger toward those who were not.

It's hard to separate the homeless and those living off public assistance who are simply unlucky in life from those who choose not to be responsible, but I tend to give them all the benefit of the doubt until they prove otherwise. There but for the grace of God go I.

The 'Urban Outdoorsmen' around here benefit from an unusually large number of non-profits started by people who've discovered that running one of these is much better than actually working for a living. The homeless are a growth industry in my community, with agencies practically tripping over each other to provide services for them. Many locals aren't happy with this situation, claiming that it's just attracting druggies, burnouts, petty thieves and other losers to the area. Stats are taken here too, and to no one's surprise, the vast majority of homeless surveyed claim to be born right here in town :rolleyes:
Of course, the stats are taken by the very same people who are providing all the services, and they certainly don't want to see their gravy train get derailed by a public outcry about attracting all these outsiders with too many handouts.

As far as the number of homeless vets is concerned, the military simply isn't the same ever since the draft was discontinued. I believe that joining the military has become a last resort for many people who were pretty marginal to begin with. A stint in the service keeps them off the street for a few years, but after that, they're back to being lost in the ozone again.

Just curious, were you in the military?

vs.
No military background here, but those two statements seem to be in conflict to each other.

I thought voluntary military service was supposed to intake the-best-of-the-best.
(Please correct at will)

afterburn 549: Post #22 is the worst thing I've read for a long time.
Shame on us as a nation.

That is a big factor in success. I too am grateful for the parents I have, although as a child I thought them demanding.

Surely there's something that can be done to help these people.

It's just sad that anyone has to live like this.

Not too many of them around here, at least during winter. -20F nights may have something to do with it...

I would not gloat over their situation too much..
Most everyone is 90 days from bankruptcy .
This country is in a huge depression., Just no one seems to know it.

Come on guys, there is jobs out there being advertised every day, If these guys WANTED to be a part of society, there are programs to get cleaned up and turn your life around. As said earlier in this thread, maybe they enjoy having no responsabilities, and a nomadic lifestyle.

I know damned well if I lost my job tomorrow morning, I could be working by the afternoon in any of several temporary employment agencies doing whatever, but at least have a job.

I think perhaps that bad work history, unmedicated mental illness, and lack of desire plays into this equation more than most of us would care to admit.

I sometimes give them food (I used to be a waiter and we had good stuff left over at the end of the day). I occasionally give them money. And I very occasionally give them alcohol.

Sometimes I look at them and can see a little of myself in them, and wonder what turns of events gave them their life and what gave me mine.

most of the ones i've met aren't veterans of any war on this planet.


and i lived in the middle of hollywood for years, being a vet doesn't give you a pass to **** on the sidewalk in front of my building.

Many times I have declined to give money,
offered to buy food at next door restaurant.
Many times, 'vet' runs away.

Know several locals that have been panhandling downtown for 15+ years.
Every beggar at Whole Foods eats better than I do, and has tax=free cash to boot ;-)

In my life, I've found it easy to be able to work to support my means.
Younger people have different values, and work is a distant pursuit.

Too many people living in parks, overpasses.

We were a rich country, no?
What went wrong?

If you've never been homeless, you have no idea what you're talking about.
It's not as easy as you think.

I was homeless for seven years. occasionally couch-surfing and mostly sleeping in my car. I've eaten out of garbage bins. Tasty!

Companies don't want to hire homeless people. It's extremely demoralizing. It wasn't till I was given a stable place to stay for a few months till I was able to find work again, and claw my way out of the ****hole I'd been put in by dear old mom.

Want to do something about the homeless people? Pick one who's not strung out. Clean him up. Give him a place to stay for a while, while he looks for honest work.

Don't b!tch about it. Do something about it. I'm here only because someone did.

I know what you mean ^^

Not true. The all volunteer force has created the highest educated force in our history. The days of high school drop out joining the Army are over. You have to have at least a GED. No judge is offering the option of a stint in the Marines over jail time any more. Military wont take them. Depending on what year or recent administration your talking about, its pretty much competitive to get in the service these days.

I could give lots and lots of reason against a draft. No military person wants it, trust me. Not a good idea at all, unless we are in some sort of "total war". And we arent.

When I was young and single I saw homeless people and thought I could easily be one as well. A few bad moves and the downward spiral could start. Luckily I would have family and friends that would help. I just saw them as people who can't get out of the hole.

Most of my friends received a car paid for by their parents. Some of them got brand new cars as a high school graduation present. I got a $100 watch & a pen & pencil set. Some of the rich kids had many things I could not have because my parents were mean and cruel and only provided me a loving environment & comfortable stable place to live with free room and board and my dad did pay for my car insurance until I turned 21. Mom was mean and often only bought me clothes from the thrift shop not the fancy brand names some of my friends had.

Dad told me if I want to drive a car I better find a job so I can pay for my own car. He provided me an interest free loan with liberal terms for repayment. I had a part time job as right after I turned 16 I got my driver's license. Since then I have only been out of a job for 5 days total.

Yep, my parents were mean, and they were the best parents any child could ever hope for. I wish I could thank them again.