WIBW.com ran this AP story detailing that despite the Veteran’s Administration targeting services for homeless vets 1/4 of all homeless people in the US are veterans. What makes this figure particular staggering is that only 11% of our population are veterans.

It took about 10 years for homelessness to really become an issue for Vietnam veterans at which point the VA acted to address the growing problem. Since 1987 they have set up 15,000 residential beds for veterans. The “war on terror” is predicted to cause an even bigger crisis among its returning veterans. One indicator of this is that newer veterans are already showing up in VA and other homeless shelters across America.

Due to extended deployments, multiple deployments, and shorter times between deployments this generation of veterans are at an increased risk of mental health issues that lead to homelessness. Daniel Tooth, director of veterans affairs for Lancaster County, Pa. states in regard to these newer homeless veterans:

We’re going to be having a tsunami of them eventually because the mental health toll from this war is enormous.

The veteran’s from the “war on terror” seeking help from VA homeless programs are more likely to be female and to have mental health problems. They are less likely, though, to have substance abuse problems. There is some hope that with the 2 years Iraq war vets are allowed of free health care some of the mental health issues can be addressed early.

With the Republicans and the President doing little more than paying lip service to improving care for our veterans we are losing precious time to help stave off homelessness and the problems that our veterans have finding employment when returning to the US. Much like the Vietnam veterans, our men and women, who heroically served this country are fading into the background. The fact that it is happening faster and that this war is dragging on and on only bodes badly for what is to come for America’s heroes.

Here is a link to a directory of organizations who are partnered with The Department of Veteran Affairs. Many of them need volunteers or donations so please reach out and do what you can for our vets.

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