Veterans more likely to be homeless, study says

[ProSense]

Veterans more likely to be homeless, study says

By William M. Welch, USA TODAY

Military veterans are much more likely to be homeless than other Americans, according to the government's first in-depth study of homelessness among former servicemembers.

About 16% of homeless adults in a one-night survey in January 2009 were veterans, though vets make up only 10% of the adult population.

More than 75,000 veterans were living on the streets or in a temporary shelter that night. In that year, 136,334 veterans spent at least one night in a homeless shelter — a count that did not include homeless veterans living on the streets.

<...>

HUD, Veterans Affairs and the Labor Department have begun a homelessness-prevention test project in five communities near military installations. HUD is providing $10 million in short-term rental assistance, the VA is providing $5 million for medical services and case management, and the Labor Department is providing job training and counseling.

more

[ProSense]

1. No comment? n/t

[Maine_Nurse]

2. Makes sense in a way...

I'd be willing to bet most of them are Marine and Army vets, and probably predominantly combat arms troops.

I was homeless for a few weeks a couple years after I got out. It wasn't that big a deal to me. I slept in worse places and ate worse food while in the military than while on the streets. I think most non-veterans see it as a horrendous thing and will do anything to avoid it. I'd guess the vets see it as less of a threat to survival, and have probably endured far worse. In my case, I knew I had a job coming up and just didn't have enough to rent a place in the meantime. There were places I could have gotten some assistance, but the paperwork and bullshit was so bad I said screw it.

Some of my volunteer work is now at a homeless shelter and even though we have a lot of homeless vets, we don't have that many come in for beds unless it is down at zero F or below. Some of those that do come in for placement help, end up getting fed up with the bureaucratic crap and just head back out on their own. I'd expect to see even more and more of that as our current crop of combat vets return. Being homeless is pretty minor compared to what they've already survived.

[ProSense]

3. Thanks for sharing your story.

Bureaucracy in everything is discouraging, even more so in the face of desperation. I'm glad things worked out for you.

VA: Homeless Veterans

DOD: Strengthening Our Military Families

[riderinthestorm]

4. Wow. K&R for your story. This matches my experience at my local food pantry.

"Thank you for your service" is paltry recompense but I offer it up as respect, even knowing it's insulting to some vets I've known.

[Bigmack]

5. I have a brilliant idea....

Why don't we stop making so many veterans?

Fading Empires don't need so many military people.