Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki is expected to unveil a five-year plan to end homelessness among veterans as he, other VA officials and community outreach specialists come together for the Homeless Veteran Summit here beginning Nov. 3.
Secretary Shinseki’s team has made homelessness a leading issue since he took charge of VA in January. Department officials estimate that about 131,000 veterans are homeless today in the United States, down from the 2003 estimate of nearly 200,000.
In several speeches this year, Secretary Shinseki has noted that to end homelessness among veterans, the VA and the nation must do better in terms of psychological health care, education and employment opportunities, and addressing substance abuse.
VA programs such as the Post 9/11 GI Bill, which became law Aug. 1, may not have an immediate impact on homelessness, but better education opportunities can decrease homelessness in the future.
“To do this well, we’ll have to attack the entire downward spiral that ends in homelessness,” Secretary Shinseki said in an August speech at the American Legion convention in Louisville, Ky. He cited the need to offer veterans education, jobs and safe housing, and to treat depression and substance abuse. “We must do it all,” he said.
I don’t think the question is whether we could afford it or not. These are people that fought for the country, for people like you to be safe, to have a home and family.
We’re spending money out the the door for useless things, because of various things, and don’t want to help those Veterans that do want to be help.
This American thinking doesn’t make sense to me at all. Cheer on your troops when they are fighting and you’re on the sideline at home. Once they come home forget about them. Does that seem right to you?
#8 As a vet I completely disagree with your notion that the military recruits from the “ignorant, and naive”. Everyone who signs the contract knows what is in store for them. And everyone who is under 18 must have a parent or guardian sign for them.
The reality is that most of our young recruits are from the lower and middle classes of our society. These people (like me) know that this is one of the only ways to go to pay for a college degree. And a college degree is one of the only ways to better oneself and one’s family in this country.
So does the military target young lower and middle class people. Yes, of course the do, because they can benefit the most.
Will, who under 18 is the military signing?
If we have money to fight 2 illegal, immoral and unnecessary wars at the same time we damn sure have enough to take care of our veterans, no matter what the cost.
Folks should know the US has given amnesty to draft dodgers 100% of the time and has screwed our veterans 100% of the time. The first protest marches on Washington DC were veterans denied the benefits they had been promised.
Please read the above note before you enlist.
If we can afford 700Billion for 690000 jobs and to try to give health care to every lazy SOB I think we can scrap together the funds for this.
My family has fought since the Vietnam War til now and my father and brothers have probably not seen one fcking cent from whomever. You can fight them get your the college money, the veterans benefits, etc but they sure aren’t going to make it easy, at least for us.
I am deeply sadden by this particular issue. My father lost a leg, we’ve lost our eldest brother during the escape, lost all our money and the US still bitches when we ask for help.
Something needs to change for those that are or have help protect and serve this country. What’s going on is just wrong no matter how you look at it.
If they are under 40, press them to re-enlist. Instant Home!
I’m sure we have a number of other countries that don’t yet have despots in power.
We can fix that.
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#22 Will
Yeah right the Navy did me a big favor by recruiting me at age 15. Of course my Dad signed the contract, a single father with 3 kids, he couldn’t wait to be rid of me and that’s why I was feeling insecure about my future.
Oh yeah, and the old college carrot. Back in my day you’d put away a dollar and they’d put away 2 more. But then it would have been much less fuss getting a student loan and a part-time job and going to college directly.
What are you a lifer or something? Trying to recruit on the blogs, that’s almost as sleazy as recruiting in junior high school. FTN!
#28 amdodeoma
I am a vet, not a lifer. I grew up in a lower class family and knew as a freshman in high school that there was no way for my family to pay for college. So, I took charge of my future and enlisted in the army. I didn’t really care what job I did as long as I got the GI Bill and Army College Fund (a bonus to the GI Bill). Now I have a degree with no debt from my education and am firmly in the middle class.
Tell me why the Navy screwed up your life. Unless you are now disabled from your service, I have feeling that you screwed up your life and are trying to find a scapegoat.
#29 Good for you, I’m not against recruitment per se, or your beloved military even. No, the 5 years in the Navy didn’t screw my life up. It was more like a 5 year hiatus. I got to go to exotic places and have sex with foreigners. I just don’t have enough ass kisser in me to respond well to military authority – made it to E4 twice. BUT, would have never gone were it not for those sleazy recruiters taking advantage of an insecure 15 year old. They promised me I could get the billet I wanted thanks to my test scores. I went for Data Processing tech and when I got there I found out they were using 2nd generation computers and punch cards. Hell I taught more than I learned, and as job experience it’s impact was null. I wouldn’t recommend the experience. But I’m sure that for a young go-getter such as yourself the middle class is a step up.
#30 It seems pretty obvious to me that we served at different times. Therefore, this debate is moot. The military of today IS different(especially in the area of enlistment) than it was 20 or 30 years ago. Do they try and target the same groups, yes. But I can safely say that the youth of today has a greater understanding for what is awaiting for them in the military than the youth of generations ago. And they have a greater understanding of the benefits that their service grants them.
#30/31, I was recruited right out of high school back in’82. Did six years in the Nuke program as an electrician.
There was nothing surprising accept the fact I realized I wasn’t lifer material at all. I really thought I would make a career of it.
And I was on that VEAP program (one for three college deal) because the GI Bill went away and hadn’t come back yet. What a POS.
I think recruiters vary as much as any other profession — some suck, some don’t. Mine was pretty damned honest and is now a friend of the family.