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Gregory Bull / AP, file
Homeless veteran Jerome Belton poses for a portrait at a homeless shelter in San Diego on September 19, 2012. A former Marine, Belton now lives on the streets in San Diego.
The latest report card on the Obama Administration’s push to end veteran homelessness by 2015 arrived Monday: the number of ex-service members sleeping in parks, under bridges or in public spaces declined by 7 percent this year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) confirmed.
But other advocates — including a small cadre of soldiers who use their spare time and combat skills to track, clothe and house veterans forced to live outside on home soil — say they still are seeing an "alarming" rise in younger homeless veterans, many of whom fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.
HUD released Monday afternoon a full 2012 count of homeless Americans, including a fresh tally of homeless veterans: "On a single night in January 2012, 62,619 veterans were homeless," the agency said. Veteran homelessness has now been reduced by 17.2 percent since January 2009, the agency said.
Before that report was made public, the head the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) said a fortified federal effort to house more disabled and low-income veterans is working.
“There’s been a big increase in resources to make sure it does decrease,” said Nan Roman, NAEH's president. “There’s been a lot of investment in newer strategies around housing — programs that are really solution-oriented.”
One of those approaches, Roman said, is a $60 million initiative by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that offers prompt financial help to ex-military members on the brink of eviction — or those recently turned out of their apartments. In fact, the VA estimates that its Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program will have helped the 42,000 veteran families by the end of 2012, according to an agency spokesman.
“Sometimes people get laid off, can’t pay their rent, and lose their apartment. It’s a high cliff to get back into an apartment because you have to pay the first and last month’s rent plus deposits,” Roman said. “In most places, that’s $2,000 or $3,000, minimum. If you had $2,000 or $3,000, you probably wouldn’t have gotten evicted in the first place. So this program helps with that sort of thing.
"There’s been a lot of determination at VA to make the homeless veteran numbers go down," she added. "I’d be very disappointed if they don’t go down, frankly."
AP Photo / Gregory Bull
Veteran Arthur Lute holds his 5-month-old son Evan in his one-bedroom apartment in Chula Vista, Calif. on Oct. 9, 2012. Lute's arduous journey from his days as a U.S. Marine to his nights sleeping on the streets illustrates the challenge the Obama administration faces to make good on its promise to end homelessness among veterans by 2015.
VA spokesman Josh Taylor said the agency already had gauged critical gains as the rate of veteran homelessness dropped by 12 percent from 2010 to 2011. He cites, in part, SSVF – “our new homeless prevention and rapid re-housing program” which during the 2011 fiscal year helped house more than 35,000 people, including nearly 9,000 children, Taylor said.
A second federal program – one forged through a HUD-VA partnership – gives “eligible veterans” vouchers to pay for stays "in a residence of their own,” Taylor said, adding that nearly 40,000 veterans have accessed that program during the past two years.
According to a HUD report issued in December 2011, there were 67,495 homeless veterans in this country - down from 76,329 one year earlier. The same report projected the homeless veteran population would shrink to 45,797 during 2012.
Click here for more military-related coverage from NBC News.
In its 2013 budget request, the VA asked for $333 million in additional funding – an increase of 33 percent over 2012 – so that it could provide “specific programs to prevent and reduce homelessness," the VA said in making the pitch last February. The overall VA budget request for 2013 totaled $140.3 billion.
“We have made good progress, but there is more work to do,” Taylor said in an email to NBC News. “Our homeless initiatives are based on a strategy of rescue and prevention.
Three soldiers leave war in Afghanistan only to battle post-combat demons. Producer: Meredith Birkett. Video editor: Shanon Dell / msnbc.com.
“The unprecedented effort under way, and the unprecedented resources being dedicated to it, have played a major part in the reduction of the veteran homeless population over the past couple of years. That work is ongoing and we expect it will continue to show progress,” Taylor added.
Late last week, during the 2012 National Rural Housing Conference held in Washington, D.C, experts reported veteran homelessness is growing in many rural areas, in part because young men and women from small-town America are 21.5 percent more likely to join the military than their urban counterparts.
“Veterans’ homelessness isn’t going to end unless we work together,” said Kelly Caffarelli, president of The Home Depot Foundation, a conference sponsor. During the past two years, the Home Depot has donated more than $30 million to veteran housing issues and homelessness and recently announced it will be contributing another $50 million to those same issues over the next three years.
“We need the government, community-based groups, foundations, and the private sector to take up this challenge. Our veterans deserve nothing less than a safe place to call home,” Caffarelli said.
'They are coming back messed up'
In Southern California, where Army veteran Joe Leal routinely leads a handful of active-duty and former service members on personal missions to find and help homeless veterans living “beneath bridges and in canyons,” Leal said he has encountered thousands of post-9/11 veterans without homes.
“It’s alarming,” said Leal, an Iraq War veteran who founded the Vet Hunters Project in 2010. His group, funded by private donations, has worked to place more than 2,600 veterans in temporary or permanent homes, he said.
“We house more Iraq and Afghanistan and younger veterans than older veterans. It used to be where a homeless vet was typically about 60 years old. Now, they’re 22 years old,” Leal said. “And a lot of them are female veterans who have witnessed combat. They are coming back messed up. They are coming back homeless.”
Monica Figueroa, 22, was an Army parachute rigger who served from 2009 to 2011, spending time in Germany, performing test jumps out of planes. She has a 17-month-old son and is married to Sgt. Jason Snyder, a 30-year-old Army reservist, who served four tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. While Snyder was still overseas, Figueroa couldn’t hold a job and couldn’t find a home for herself or her son. She slept in a car for several weeks near Los Angeles, she said.
“When we met her, she was living in a garage where they repair vehicles,” Leal said. “She was bathing in a sink where they wash car parts. Monica was just overwhelmed. She joined the military when she was young. She got out. She had a child. She was used to the fast pace of military life. And then, in getting out, the transition (preparation she received from the Army) was lacking.
Lucy Nicholson / Reuters, file
Army veteran Tara Eid, 50, writes an essay at New Directions women's house, a long-term transitional program for female veterans dealing with issues of homelessness, trauma and addiction, in Los Angeles, Calif., on November 18, 2011. Eid has seven children and was homeless many times over a period of 10 years.
“A lot of the active-duty people are getting out even though they don’t have a plan” for post-military life, he added. “They’re so fed-up after five to six deployments. They say, ‘I don’t care what I do when I get out, I’ll just figure it out when I get out, but I know I don’t want to do this any more.’ That’s what I’m running into.”
The Vet Hunters Project helped Figueroa, her son and husband recently move into a furnished temporary apartment in Loma Linda, Calif., and enter a program that provides them financial counseling to prepare for an independent life.
“Before this, my living situation was very unstable, moving from one house to another. Just jumping. Just living anywhere I could, with family members, friends, anybody who could help me for two weeks or so,” Figueroa said. “I had to leave my son with my mother — there was no room for anyone else where they were living. So I stayed in a car that my dad owned.
“The thing that made it very rough was I had no idea of the benefits I had. All I knew about was the GI Bill. Otherwise, no one ever explained anything else to me (about post-military benefits). I was not prepared for the transition.”
It’s not uncommon, in fact, for the Vet Hunters to come across Army reservists who are still serving the country but who have no home, Leal said.
“These guys show up for service looking sharp,” Leal said. “Then they leave at the end of the day and go sleep in a Chevy.”
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- Older vets to post-9/11 vets: 'We had it harder'
- Double amputee to potential congressional foes: 'Bring it'
- Hearing loss the most prevalent injury among returning veterans
Leave a Comment:
We may have to face a difficult demon: the fact that the rich use us. We fight their wars (often only to benefit their profitability), protect their money, bail out their mega businesses, mop their floors, listen to their political clap-trap, and when the chips are down...when the decision is to pay the taxes that support a social contract or force an underclass to fend for itself in a world owned by an upper-class completely isolated behind privacy gates and no-trespassing signs, it may be time to awaken the one percent in a way they can understand. If they had sense, they would awaken themselves before those extremes are taken, however civic sense does not seem to trump pure greed.
There should be *no* homeless vets. These people have been through hell for us and they deserve to be treated for their issues and provided with care and housing when necessary. This is shameful that these warriors are being booted to the curb.
I agree with Buffaloe51.
As soon as a person gets done serving a small house and money for food should be automatically provided. It doesn't have to be much, but most of us have seen military housing, and it's not that great anyway. But for homeless people, small areas designated as "retirement villages" should be in every state, for every veteran.
We can give 8 billion dollars to Egypt, just before they declare a dicatatorship, but we can't pay our teachers and house our veterans? We can afford to keep approximately 14 million illegal immigrants in this country, but we can't afford to give money to our veterans? People who have served their country/
As soon as a person gets done serving a small house and money for food should be automatically provided
That is already provided in the form of a government guaranteed VA home loan and the GI bill for an education if they want to take advantage of it.
@sane: I'm a vet of a former conflict, 5th Cav (71-72). Although I was drafted and didn't volunteer to go at the time, I did believe that I owed my country something for the price of freedom and liberty. I served with men from all walks of life, even some who had come from more privledged backgrounds then what I had come from. Having said that, I don't envy the rich or envy what another person has. I didn't fight for the rich either, I fought for you even before you were probably born. It was an honor to serve.
And those quickest to boot them to the curb are the same one quickest to beat the drums of war. Support Our Troops? What a load of B.S.
sane, you've bought into the left's class warfare...hook, line, and sinker.
Like Big Curt said, when you signed on the dotted line to join the military, you did so knowing it was for your COUNTRY, not for just one class within your country.
Help me understand this 'problem' ... two guys, both 18 and both just graduated highschool. One joins the military and the other reamins in the 'civilian world'. Fast forward 4 years ... both are now 22 and the military guy, just recently discharged from active duty, finds himself on the street without a clue ... like he has just landed on an alien planet. Meanwhile, his civilian buddy apparently is doing 'okay' becuase there are no reports of homelessness about his kind. So exactly why is that? Why does serving in the military for 4 years, serving in Germany makes a person 'unfit' to survive in the civilian world? He and his buddy grew up together, graduated together ... but the military guy is somehow far worst off than his civilian buddy. Sounds almost like serving in the military is guaranteed to destory your life.
I agree with Buffaloe51that there should be no homeless vets but contrary to what astounding says if you give a person money or housing does not help that person. Instead we need to understand that a person that has spent the lase half of a decade in the military know how to be a solder but what job skill is that? All military service should end in every solder...every one of them spending another 2 years in some vocational training or college. They don't let you out until you have a usable trade.
well exactly how do you count them...I mean i have not had one single person come up to my spouse and ask him that question...twice homeless...currently! So exactly how do they count us...? How do they count the people whos face was slammed in the door when they asked for help? There is no program to help...not thru the VA and certainly not through the states....so how the heck do you count him when you dont even know he exisits??? and refuse to look at him?
oh and did i mention he was shot in operation restore hope...no health care none
Now the Veterans of this Great Country have made all the sacrifices for your freedom and liberty, they gave their blood, arms , legs, sight and their SOUL.
Now are American politics going to cut our vets even more and are you the American ppl going to stand up for your Hero's or villainize us?
these combat veterans deserve whatever our politicians give to themselves.
Combat Vets should be given their base pay for LIFE and reduced housing cost w/ benefits for life.
Vets do more for your freedom than any Politician any day and any time.
The progressive Obama Administration has 'created' more homeless families than jobs.
Support the troops!! Wave the flag!!! Put lots of ribbons on your car!! Shout USA, USA,USA!! Put a huge flag up in your front yard!!! And at a sporting event, cheer and scream as loud as you can during The Star Spangled Banner. But never, ever, under any circumstance, for any reason, at any time, increase my taxes ONE SINGLE PENNY.
*Charlie-1915998 is so hot to pay higher taxes so please feel free to give him the bill for pork barrel spending. : )*
(Looks at post above)
The real problem is affordable housing and steady gainful employment that pays for rent. As long as companies like Bane Capital are denuding our industial base and selling the manufacturing rights. Sensata Corporation in Freeport Illinois AKA Bainville is the result. For a few dollars for a tiny group of people, thousands lost their jobs and had their lives turned upside down. Positive directed capitalism can build economies and the live's of the people who work in them. Capitalism based on greed chews up workers and spits them out onto the street.
They should stay in the military, at home.."Who closed all the bases.
After training and being in those hell holes they should return home live within the compounds, continue training,education,therapy what ever it takes. They should be vested for military pensions after five years.You don't just hand someone the ball then, when you say they're done, you take the ball away and say you cant play no more..
Its ludicrous how our government works, they make cuts on programs and they're set up to fail then they want to fix it.
lee-936758
Correction. The Progressive Obama Administration went to CONGRESS just this year for a 1 BILLION jobs bill for our veterans. THE GOP SAID NO. Now who is created 'more' homeless families than jobs. It was BUSH that got us into two foriegn wars in the first place.
Charlie-1915998
So in other words... 'its rah rah rah, go USA", but don't give anyone a penny in assistance if they should ever need it... including veterans. Hmmmmm.... Okay, yeah.. umm.. hmmm.
As for these veterans... You have done your country and tremendous service... Please use the government programs that are included as part of your service (i.e., GI BILL, Low Interest VA loans etc), and general assistance. America still respects those who get up everyday and serve her
roadlesstraveled - The counts are done each January, and are conducted by HUD working in conjunction with local shelters and community groups. People go to shelters, and go to camps, and physically search for people on the streets or in the woods. If you Google 'AHAR,' you'll see exactly how they count, complete with all the detail you'd care for. And I promise you--help for Veterans is certainly out there! There are more resources available now than ever before, from HUD-VA Supportive Housing, SSVF, Domiciliary Care for those with medical issues, Grant and Per Diem to programs for dental and even the recently incarcerated. The absolute easiest way is to start at a VA hospital.
You do realize he inherited and did not creat the largest recession since 1930 and has been working our way ever since he was elected. We probably would be out of it if the republicans had fixing America's problems ahead of trying to make Obama a one term President.
Time@ 1.16
Just when did Harry Reid put this billion dollar (Union bill) up for a vote? Will you provide a source please? Just like the last four yrs. of failure, when the Progressives are through with you It's under the bus! Just a little history we were in a Depression in the 30s, has Obama taken us from a recession to a Depression?
"So in other words... 'its rah rah rah, go USA", but don't give anyone a penny in assistance if they should ever need it... including veterans."
I think you missed my point. I was being sarcastic. I was referring to all these ditto-head Fox cultist flag wavers who are all talk and no action when it comes to vets.
Thank You Charlie for clarifiying your post...
Need to let ppl know of your dark satire...
But it is good to make ppl mad get a little rize out of ppl. It worked! I was pissed
Makes ppl who do say those things think!
Homeless veterans is a problem larger than before mostly because of the 2008 recession that hasn't gone away, and by the huge size of the military. With such a much larger group of people getting out of the military you are going to have the same problems as before but with more people, the recession exacerbates it.
Veterans need to help themselves also. If you are homeless why are you having kids? Take any job that may not be perfect, they are out there. I don't see a direct connection with homelessness and combat because of all of the previous wars, especially WWII, Korea and Viet Nam. All of which just dumped the veteran after the war without much help. I returned from Viet Nam for leave just three days after being lifted out of combat. This was after 13 months of combat in the jungles and rice paddies, never having time off in any city there and just 5 days of R&R. 8 months later I was discharged with not even a good bye much less counselling. Free housing and money wasn't even in my best dreams. Unemployment was there until I got a job and went to school at the same time.
If you want to get ahead don't create anchors to drag around, do it!
You may have that piece of paper that gives you a home loan guarantee, but the banks are not going to lend you money if you don't have a job even with that paper. Another thing even with a job that paper is no guarantee that you will get the bank to approve it, or for that matter that VA is going to approve it. As for getting advanced education after you get out, well if you have a mental health issue or a physical one, please explain how the person is going to be able to study, if the main issue is a mental health or physical condition that is not being treated? There is alot more to our story than anyone really knows about or even wants to know about
Time for me to speak my piece !!
There is more than one problem here. First is the lack of good paying jobs. The second problem is much larger and harder to fix. Cumming back to the world after combat duty is unbelievably difficult ( been there done that ). Everything has changed so much. One can not connect with what is going on around them. Things that are meaning full to those who did not go make no sense to the returning vet. Most prefer to be left alone and out of sight. We only feel comfortable around other vets, for all others we put on a false face. We are uncomfortable in crowds ( prefer small groups no more than eight people ). Our world was turned upside down and inside out. Your world moved on and left us behind. Friends grew up, got married, neighborhoods changed. We lost contact with old friends who moved on. The country changed and we are at a loss as to why and how. Most of us suck it up and try to do the best we can . But for others it is an impossible task. They choose to be alone because dealing with these changes is just to difficult a task. Our lives were forever changed by our combat experiences. It is often said that time heals all wounds . But what one goes through during that long time period . Can often be hell on earth.
bob
I believe the politians need to create more jobs overall so when our veterans do come back home they can find a job. I am not a veteran but a US citizen and I am even finding it hard to find a job, I have even went back school like was suggested, If it wasnt for my husband having a stable job I dont know what we would do. As far as education check with local colleges there is help out their. One of the first questions on an application to a college ask if you are a veteran.
I would like to thank All the veterans, we just as US citizen dont know what we can do to help!! So again Thank YOU, You are not forgotten!!
Liberals and Conservatives are in this forum insulting each other while real American heroes who made extreme sacrifices for the said Liberals and Conservatives are on the street.
The president of the United States probably gets paid for the rest of his life once he/she is no longer president. Meanwhile, for a veteran who left it all on the battlefield on behalf of all Americans, I hear people wanting to give them low interest VA loans. It doesn't matter how low you make the loan if the person has no income.
At any rate, if the country can pay an ex president for life, then it ought to pay for life the serviceman who risked all. If the country cannot afford to pay Veterans, then the country cannot afford Veterans. ... meaning that the country cannot afford any more wars.
Roadlesstraveled is right on, most of the homeless vets are not counted especially in smaller towns. In the small Florida county we live in there are well over 650 homeless vets and those are the ones WHO ARE COUNTED when they are found in the woods, sitting at bus stops, and under bridges. Most are young although there are older Vietnam vets. Most of the younger vets are Army veterans who have significant mental health issues and/or TBI. We have a couple of guys who do nothing but look for homeless vets in the woods to render them medical aid, offer foodstuff, clothing, tents, sleeping bags, personal items, etc.. The vets hide from people because they are afraid of being locked up (again, and again).
The VA is not helping much, they are just medicating these guys with different medications and sending them back out. The medications only work for a while and the vets self medicate with drugs and alcohol. When not if, the vets spiral out of control they are Baker acted or go to jail, and after their short term stays, are back on the streets worse of than before. The VA is not processing the disabilities for these vets and playing games with their disability ratings. There are dedicated people who work at the VA, however, it seems the higher management and office workers delay decisions and disability ratings that stretch into years. In the meantime, the local VA clinics have their finger in the dike and are trying to hold onto the veterans by medicating them and giving them mental health help. It isn't enough.
Advocate for your veterans, they do not deserve the treatment they are receiving upon leaving the military. Returning to civilian life is quite a shock from being in the flight and fight mode 24/7.
I remember vividly one of my coworkers, a veteran of the first Gulf War, becoming very agitated during a business meeting. Not my first experience with a veteran's PTSD but my first experience in the work place. He eventually went out on disability because he could not acclimate to our petty work environment anymore. I understood his point, after being on guard 24/7 to stay alive, listening to petty arguments and dealing with peoples enlarged egos was insignificant in comparison. He told everyone they should be grateful to be alive, that they had food everyday, a place to live, and didn't have to worry about driving down the road without an IED exploding. All valid points.
Our veterans should receive aid monies before any foreign countries, especially those in the Middle East. President Obama has allocated more money than any other president to the VA, now he just has to streamline the VA so they WILL ACTUALLY HELP the veterans instead of trying to over medicate and cover up just how badly injured our returning combat veterans are. We take care of homeless and disabled veterans in our area because we care, too many people are oblivious to their plight, get educated and volunteer- push for state and federal programs for our veterans. All of our veterans, not just cherry picking vets that the VA and their civilian contractors look good.
I had to go back and look at the mans picture a second and third time.
Look deep into my little brothers eyes. The pain, hurt and sorrow of war is there for all to see. If we can see it than why can't congress see it ?? Better yet why can't the rest of the population see it.
bob
Many votes given out in just this short thread!!!! I also saw a headline about a site just for compliments (but I don't do Facebook and don't even have time this morning to look at the article) and just wanted to point out here "WHAT A GREAT IDEA! because I saw an article about Elizabeth Warren and a comment in the section after that that said "CONGRATULATIONS TO ELIZABETH WARREN ON HER WIN!!!" and it had all these "thumbs-down" votes???? What was that?
sane maybe, #1- EXCELLENT!!!!
JaxA, #1.6- "...... not just for one class within your country." I think you raise a very valid point here; not necessarily in identical connotation as yours, but definately in some "questioning" of the reality of the situation as a whole; and my very first reaction upon seeing the headline being to question the level to which the Federal Government is actually unduly creating an unwarranted "special class" within this country. (by UNconstitutional "abridgement" by the controlling of Free Speech conversation of the subject of HOMELESSNESS, by turning up the volume to only be able to hear one note of the composition!) Unwarranted, because it is being created "to the exclusion" of, and to roundaboutly be remedially "representative" of other Homeless Individuals, who were and are NOT Military Veterans. This issue may very well be at a "tipping point" that could actually lead to "reverse intention" of continued exploitation of "Military" Veterans. There is a point in which One can, albeit sometimes inadvertantly, become the Monster. Any way you slice and dice it, "precedent" criteria out of this particular issue can only be established "for" Military grounds, to the exclusion of so many others.
Gunner-1077900, #1.7- "because there are no reports of homelessness about his kind." According to your post, "his kind" is Non-Military, No? Thank you for pointing that out.
Slimyone, #1.8- "All military should end in every soldier......" EXCELLENT!!! filled in and "fill in the blank" positing to beg the question!!!!!
roadlesstraveled, #1.9- How "TOTALLY" EXCELLENT!!!!! How do you.......count something that you're not even looking for by instead relying on looking only at what self-report is arbitrarily put in by "self-reporting" of "arbitrarily whomever"?, ie, who's really looking at and listening to "the Boots on the Ground"? (flats, stilletos or combat)
sheepled, #1.10- EXCELLENT!!!!!! EXCELLENT!!!!!! EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!
THE HERO HAS A THOUSAND FACES
Susan, there lies the problem "politician's need to create more jobs" . These heroes put their lives on hold to fight for freedom, NOT Government handouts! No the Politicians do not create jobs, the private sector does. Freedom is not in the Progressive plans. There was no concern when Vietnam Vets. came home to be spit on, called baby killers & left homeless by the same libreals now destroying the U.S.A.
Let me guess, a Liberal Collage Grad?
Hey- the Thread was only at 11 comments when I started to reply between having to do many other Monday morning things!!! Please, no offense to any after comment #11 that I haven't had time to read!!!!!!!!!
Hey Mystery Rhee ... the "his kind" was a simplistic way of stating "non-military." This entire news reort and comments wants to indicate that "veterans" are different from everyone else so I figured why not differentiate between the classes of civilians :-)
You wanted a link?
Here's another one in case you think the Senate Democrats home pg (where the above abstract came from) or the NY Times is too *biased*:
Senate GOP Obstructionists Throw Veterans Under The Bus-Vote Down Bill To Help Vets In Need Of Jobs
How's that crow taste?
Gunner.
Pretty much.
Charlie-1915998
So Charlie what would you suggest?? I came home from war 40 years ago and have had my share of ups and downs. I have applied for va loans and for the life of me did not get one. They have strict rules on job requirements and after that strict rules on what you can buy. I did buy a home many years ago with the help of WI.VA and did get a lot of help there.did some schooling too but I found I did not fit the mold of office type. I wave the flag and am proud of most vets. Some are not worth the time of day as all they do is bitch about how hard they have it well get over it and be a man again. Being a vet has made my life different as will your will be. Get over it.
This topic is so incredible.. and I wish there was something I had to add that wasn't negative. U know there will be a lot of people who read this and say that we are all whining , etc. My answer to those people is- LIVE MY LIFE, and I'll bet you feel like this too.
In 2003, my husband, a "Gulf War Era" vet, was diagnosed with coronary artery disease, at a non-va medical facility, and a stent was placed in his right main coronary aterery, to save his life. We were doing ok, up to then. But soon, he developed more symptoms and problems, and in 2004, he lost his job. Our nightmare started soon after that, when , to try and get him the care we had been told he needed, we took him to the VA hospital system for help.
Now , I will straight out tell you, it had been several years since he'd been out of the Navy. He had been hurt at a previous job, had surgery on his neck and back, and the former employer was ruled liable and were supposed to cover any future medical care for problems with that. They didn't , but that's because the company doesn't exist any longer as a US entity. He had fallen into the alcohol to kill the pain problem, but had taken steps and gotten back up, and was working, making a pretty good living for us,the family he had always wanted . I had been a friend to him for years, prior to the marriage, and had advocated, and tried to help him put his life back together. He had suceeded, and was doing well. we had married, and now this. He started drinking again. Not as much as before, but it got to the point where he needed help to change the pattern , before it got to the point of no return.
Now he had pride, and didn't want a "handout, and had refused to go to the VA for any help before. His service wasn't so he could get benefits", those were things he said to me. Reality was this- in the rural area we live in- there are not a lot of choices, and there are not a lot of jobs. Those ar e facts- not whining. I have done a lot of those jobs that " Americans don't want", that I keep hearing about. Part time, dead end, no benefits jobs. What ever I can do, to keep food on the table and a roof over my kids heads.Nurse's aid, waitress, fast food, retail, combination of the above all at once: roofing houses, cutting weeds in fields, feeding and cleaning up after animals, cleaning offices and schools..every since I was fifteen years old- I am not lazy, I worked damned hard, and i am reliable as hell. I also went to college for several years, and gave it up when my oldest daughter was born with a heart defect- she came first, and I figured I'd go back, later on. I have never been able to afford it, yet- but I'm not dead yet. I will be homeless again, soon- , because I'm unemployed and have no resources left, and no way to get from here to somewhere I can find a job. ANd I'm thousands of dollars in debt, now from medical bills, because the VA , as a whole corrupt and messed up bureaucratic bloated nightmare organization failed to do one damn thing right. They didn't provide decent medical care..they tried to insist that he attended a religion based group as condition of alcohol counseling. They did not monitor his heart condition, even mixed his records up with another vet with the same name, and only God could answer my questions about all that, because I'm not rich enough to hire an advocate.
I can't get any help- they did almost nothing for him, when his mental state deteriorated to where he almost killed us both, after I ran out of ways to keep us in a home, other than to hospitalize him in a voluntary mental placement until I could work enough and get my income tax refund to secure housing. They told me in October 2011 that I was imagining, that his heart was causing problems, and didn't even refer him to a cardiologist for more tests, or even schedule him to follow up with his primary care provider, until the next July. By then I had taken him to the emergency room here, outside the VA twice, and my old car, the only vehicle I could afford, had quit. I struggled on all through July and August, trying to keep going, paying anybody i could get to take me the 54 mile round trip to work- and then one night in August, the heart problem I was "imagining" killed him. Over all this time, when he couldn't work, was exhibiting all the symptoms of a failing heart, and couldn't work, and kept getting put off and told he was only 10% disabled, and shuffled around from worthless program to program and office to office,to be told to keep filling out more paperwork...he hasn't had any income, until May of this year. They bounced him from Social security to Va like a ping pong ball for all those years, and ignored every effort of mine to try and"interfere" in his lack of care, until his imaginary heart problem finally killed him, four days after his 48th birthday They made him feel like @!$%#. They made him feel like a worthless bum. They took all the pride he had left, and now? I'm not a vet, so Ican't even get that much help. I'm not old enough to qualify for medical. I couldn't get him help, because i worked, and because we were legally married, and because I struggled to pay insurance and bills, to keep a roof over his head, and food on his table. I paid insurance premiums,that I didn't have to pay, to help defray the costs, and to try and save a little of his pride. Guess what? The VA, at the end, when he was critical and in a small town ER- REFUSED his transfer to their facilty, saying he was too serious, to take him to a trauma center. Thats' what was done, and he died there ..from onset to death it took less than 48 hours- he never regained consciousness. After the fact.. although he supposedly was covered for what my insurance wouldn't cover, had the rating due to low income- I had asked this question several times and gotten the same answer- SInce he never made it to the VA and since he didn't Physically make it to their hospital? I am being slapped with all those medical bills. I no longer have insurance, don't have a job, and can't fight anymore. I can't get any help, because of ou age, and because the hospitals screwed around until past the three month deadline with billing- I can't get help outside of the VA either, oh except for Food stamps, if I have an address to go to. ( I don't , unless I get family charity) They don't count any of us in those numbers- the widows of the ones that finally just die . We are dirt, and nobody even counts us- because nobody cares. Not the Press, not any of the successful ones..and sure as hell- noboduy in the VA. They can't be charged with malpractice, and I'm too poor now to fight it anyway.
AT least, he isn't here to watch me finally lose the battle to keep going, and I can thank the VA for that, so I guess there is one positive in this isn't there? Good luck to the rest of you- please keep your kids out of the military- this government is such a bloated and diseased thing, it isn't worth their young lives. Thank the rest of you for trying- we had a dream, didn't we? Your service was for an ideal.. that was worth it, but it's not worth our kids. ANd there are too many lies, and too much red tape.
Be nice to homeless people- one of them might be me.
A homeless man with Bluetooth?
Maybe or a sound amplifier, earring, doesn't really matter does it?
Shinkins,
"A homeless man with Bluetooth?" What a stupid comment. A Bluetooth is a tiny fraction of one months rent. Would you deprive them of communication? housing? food? How much more would you take to satisfy your sick twisted criteria?
Shnikins....Duh...Since 2004, the USPS has had a program most of us are aware of called "Cell Phones for Vets." It allows all non-military Americans to collect used and new cell phones, send them to the USPS post box...and your problem with a vet having bluetooth is?
a. How dare a vet risk his life and think he should have what you have.
b. How dare a vet have some means of communication for emergencies
c. How dare a vet be on the same hoochie coochie status as the "haves"
Take your pick your post reeks of affluenza.
Any American can collect these phones and ship them at no cost to the USPS post box. To all the asses with the butt ends so high in the air, how many cell phones have you bothered to collect for our vets? I started one at my office and so far collected more than a dozen relatively, useable cell phones. All the ritzy bois love to do is look down those long snobby noses at anyone they consider NOCD (Not Our Class Dahling) ...get over yourselves.
My grandson's $14.95 Virgin Phone came with a Bluetooth ear thingy....AND HE'S NOT RICH by any means....
Looks more like a hearing aid to me.
That's the #1 affliction returning vets have, hearing loss.
"It used to be where a homeless vet was typically about 60 years old. Now, they’re 22 years old."
But weren't there 22-year-old homeless vets in the 1970s?
Probably, just another bum, nobody cared--shameful then as it is today.
Yes there was and the population villified them. They had the same attitude in the 70's about a homeless vet as skyparrot has stated.
@Bob109
Sure, but then again, that pertains to every war. I think the writer is referring to the average age of retirement when the country is not at war. (hence the word "typically")
Yes, there were. And the government at the time was so heartless that, instead of paying their rent, they merely offered grants to the states to put homeless veterans to work so they could pay their own rent.
Any time the fed offers state grants, it never ends up for the intended purpose. Some little state slime ball finds a loophole and whoosh! The state grants magically disappear.
The VA has been so badly gutted in the past 4 decades. There's a reason for that. Some in this country prefer to hire private military contractors. If these loons had their way, the entire US military and defense would be Military Inc. and of course, as we all know, taxpayers would never see the bills they submit for payment via our tax dollars.
WWII vets returned and there was great unemployment in the recession that started when war spending curtailed. Many returned to their parents' house. Later when a job became available, they could move out and move on in life. OF course the operative phrase is Parents' house. Huge difference between then and now. With the destruction of the family unit, few 22 year olds have a Mother and a Father still living together owning a house able to take in an adult child. Also, now it is considered a social nightmare to return to your parents house as a 22 year old. It's society's responsibility to provide that. As for jobs, when WWII vets returned there were manufacturing jobs (not any more) and the jobs here were available for Americans (not any more). Americans also had the idea that they need to improve themselves. They sought out education and training. Congress pumped up the GI bill although I know WWII combat vets who never got it. Again, live with the parents and use your money for school. This is impossible now ! Many jobs go to foreigners, legal and otherwise. Many WWII vets were suffering what we now know as PTSD. There was not widespread help for them. Many vets counselled others and helped each other to cope, out of the sense of "buddy" that got them through the war. There were no professional counsellors. Eventually finding or creating jobs helped tremendously to make the lessons of the help and counselling real. Hope was established. Rewards came. Faith in fellow Americans was restored. Now veterans have the same obstacles and challenges. Fith needs to be restored. We don't seem to have made it easier for vets. Many military members make great employees because they understand teamwork better than a lot of their contemporaries who did not serve. Many make great small business owners because they know leadership. They will fix this problem by doing what Vets have always done. Cover for each other. Help when you can.
There is a saying, soldiers are angels and demons. Angels when you need them, demons when you don't. Just imagine some of those soldiers getting out and returning home. They have physical, emotional problems from injuries suffered during combat, that leave them struggling. But Uncle Sam doesn't want to be reminded of any debt that might be owed to those brave men and women.
Better to turn a blind eye and deaf ear. Let that vet be ignored, drag out the paperwork, deny repeatedly any benefits and eventually hope he/she will just disappear. So these wonderful people suffer hardships, including economically on top of everything else. Especially if they can't get a job, return to their old one or maintain one because of disability. Then throw in losing their homes and their families falls apart.Of course homelessness increases.
It becomes so easy to hope they'll disappear. After all, who will really care about one more broken soldier? Always cheaper to just get fresh new recruits to sign up. To make bold promises to them. Just never forget, soldiers are angels and demons.You can tell how much society cares by the number living on the streets.
I have been homeless and Im a combat vet. When we return to the civilain world its sometimes very hard to adjust to a normal enviorment. My problem was I used drugs to self medicate and I had all the PTSD symptons but didnt want to say anything about it. Alot of differnt places helped me get back on my feet also the salvation army was there when I needed tham as well.
when your country's answer to foreign diplomacy is WAR you are going to have lots of problems. Let's stop our thirst for war and practice some frigin peace.
When your idea of diplomacy is to fly planes into skyscrapers, you are going to have lots of problems.
denver bill 2, small cell terror groups are not countries in terms of international diplomacy, and neither Iraq nor Afghanistan as countries were responsible for the 9/11 attack upon the USA. Rather that responsibility belonged to a small band of a hundred or so freelance terrorists called al Qaeda. And here we are now more than a decade later with these official (7 Dec 2012) DoD casualty figures --
OIF: 3,489 KIA, 31,925 WIA
OEF: 1,709 KIA, 18,109 WIA
These figures do not include non-hostile deaths such as by suicide.
So you still want to play that FOX News dogma hand of cards you are holding?
Oh come off it...It isn't our country that promotes war and I'll prove it. How much did Halliburton and Blackwater profit from Iraq? In the trillions by the last count. War for these corporations are nothing more than a hugely profitable industry. To hell with who dies or is maimed...that's when these corporate crud balls remind how "war is hell." All while they get that $$$$$ gleam in their eyes and salivate over how much profit the next military battle will earn them. Once you accept that to a tiny US fraction at the top war equals wealth, you see the real agenda clearly.
If you want to hunt bears, you've got to go where bears live.
We need to help our veterans!
Thanks to the false flag operations of Bush Cheney and Dumsfeld and staged 9/11 attack to get us involved in middle east oil. That was to keep Saddam from moving oil to gold whatt!?!? Would crash the US dollar... Anyway this is the result They don't care about the troops extended tours ill equiped Gotta go to war w/ the army ya got. I was in the Marines in the late 70's and a grunt combat trained. The gave liitle to help or prepare those who were getting out. Thirty years later looks like it hasn't changed.
It's pure stupidity to think 9/11 was a staged event.
Not only have terrorists around the world been implicated, but video and testaments of many thousands of people have made a "conspiracy theory" impossible. Something only the weak of mind believe from few conspiracy theorists.
Really fred, to blame Bush and Cheney?
Try learning what Islam preaches to Muslims about America, Jews, and Christians.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7qrybtztJw
(that's the co-founder of Hezbollah speaking, and even if you don't agree with his stance on Christianity, please listen to what he has to say about Islam at least. He's the co-founder of Hezbollah for goodness sake, and a Iranian at that. I think he has a better understanding at the inner workings of Islam than you do.)
The proctologist called. He found your head.
Denver Bill...OMG...Good one...I nearly spilled my cup of coffee laughing.
Good job MSNBC. Some say there will be more and some say there will be less...an alarming trend upwards another one downwards... WELL DONE!
Reporting for everyone. Let's teach the controversy.
First of all, thanks to each and every vet who has ever served, in conflict or in peace.
I recall when I left the military - the transition into civilian life is not easy, and though I had transferrable skills, the job market was terrible and many potential employers thought I wouldn't stick around because I was overqualified or they felt I would demand a higher wage than what they were willing to pay. I was one of those who ended up living out of my car; I was too proud to turn to my family for help, or turn to anyone for help. Many soldiers feel this way, after they have spent years being the type of person who MAKES THINGS HAPPEN.
I believe our government should look into what I would believe to be a simple solution: there are many bases in the US with empty barracks. Why not use those bases to house the homeless vets and their families, give the vets some medical and mental health treatment, teach them a skill that can be used in the civilian world, and in them meantime, utilize them on base to "pay" for their room and board by fixing things or performing other tasks? Allow these persons to stay long enough to also be able to work at a job outside the work they perform for board so that they can be financially stable enough to make it when they do leave.
The bottom line is there shouldn't be a single homeless vet. Not in our country. They have been willing to put their lives on the line for us, and we need to make them a priority.
Perhaps those barracks could be used for government subsidized manufacturing that could over time be turned into a profitable enterprise and subsidies removed.
Of course the government never removes subsidies so the idea is probably a pipe dream...
That's a great idea Cathy. On the other hand, when I finished my tour of duty, I wanted to get as far away from the Army and its memory as possible. I still remember that after I returned home from country, and was preparing to discharge so I could return home, that we were forced to watch some dip-sh*t film about signing up for the Reserves and National Guard. I'm like, 'Hell no! No thank you. I've done my time. Just give me my papers and let me go home.' So, I don't know if I'd want to live at an abandoned military base, but it's a good idea.
Cathy,
Great idea.
You are describing a permanent war state. House the veterans so they are ready for the next war when you need them.
Although it is a great idea, it is not an invention. It has been tried before, it did not achieve commercial success.
It was called the SS. You might want to read your national socialist history.
As we like to say, onward christian soldiers, marching in to hell.
Help me out here ... Monica Figueroa served two years on active duty in the Army and was stationed in Germany ... not exactly a hardship post. Is married, has a young child, unemployed and homeless. Her husband is an Army reservist, serving on active duty in an area designated a "war zone." Unless the laws of our land have changed significantly since I was in, here is what I remember. Her husband receives full pay and allowances (i.e. BAQ w/depn and an additional housing allowance based on dependence zip code) and becuase he serves in a "war zone" all of his pay and allowances are tax free. In addition, as a military spouse, Ms Figueroa is entitled to exchange and commissary privileges among other facilities aboard a militray base. She is also entitled to medical care at significantly reduced cost. So I am had a lost to understand why Ms Figueroa is having such a hard time ... certainly has nothing to do with her prior militray service. More likely her husband is not providing the required support ... no need for the government to have to provide more additional support than what is being done through her husband.
Cathy, I so agree. NJ has Ft. Monmouth one of the 21 bases Bush closed in 2006. It stands empty just like that Nike Base in my town. It would seem before a president decides to close these bases, they'd have the common sense to check first on the number of homeless vets these bases could serve. We pay taxes on them whether they are closed or not.
@Cathy V, When Pease AFB in Portsmouth, NH, closed in 1991 there was talk about turning all the military housing into a place to help get homeless veterans trained and sheltered and back on their feet in society. However the local community rejected any idea of becoming a regional magnet for homeless Vets. And so the DoD bulldozed a thousand units of housing plus barracks into the ground before finally turning the base over to the civilian community. So you will have a hard time taking your idea to fruition as long as local communities object to "not in by backyard."
Endtrust...Oh puhlease...What's with the neuroses over socialism with you righties? If we are paying federal taxes for empty military bases a conservative president closed, why the hell can't they be put to some use for those who need them?
How about we demand Big Oil give back that $12 billion your House Republicans handed them this year and sink it into the VA instead? Don't slam socialism when corporate SS socialists are sticking it to the Middle Class.
Granite...One element behind that bulldozing...vulture land developers who pay big bucks to "persuade" local and state governments how much "more" in tax ratables these towns will get if they just get rid of empty military bases. We in the US are being eaten alive by cannibals of the greed breed.
Utterly shameful, one of my best friends/best guitar player I've ever worked with is currently serving, has been since 2005. Out of respect for him, and all of our service men and women, this makes me one ashamed American and truly ashamed of our government who can send billions to foreign nations; many of whom hate us yet we cannot take care of those who have served and bled for our freedoms on the battlefield. We can and must do better! Anything less is to utterly disrespect the sacrifices our hero's make every day! DUMBFOUNDED AND APPALLED AM I!!!!!
Yellow Journalism at its finest.
If you send young devil worshiping christian soldiers off to war you get younger mangled devil worshiping veterans. Amazing. Sound the alarms.
1 + 1 = 2
The sun rises in the east.
Welcome to Earth.
I don't even have to spell check this comment.
End, nuts, devil worshipers, nonsense. Its devil worshiping to picket funerals and grave sites of our vets, that's just plain evil.
sky parrot..Some Americans can't see the light for the darkness and evil in their souls. The more I read posts like those of Endtrust, the more I am convinced that the most hateful underbelly is desperate to flood the country with their hate. But, the joke is...they hate themselves the most. They just don't like having to ingest all that hate all by themselves. They are very generous about sharing it.
Endtrust...If you are hearing hell's bells, maybe yellow journalism isn't your real problem?
It's a shame when there are more homeless vets than homeless illegal aliens.
There isn't ANY excuse for these men and women being on the streets! Why aren't the Americans taking to the streets over this?
They come out of Hell on Earth and next stop is Where does Hell End? I would gladly help if I knew where to start or who to contact. Is there some guidelines on this situation?
The problem is that the gov't cannot unsoldier these folks. I question where their families are and why is america turning their backs on these kids!!!!!! God ain't sleeping folks...he's really not..
BV -
Any proposition you have create one here, if it collects more than 20,000 signatures, the president has to look at it. Good luck.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/register?destination=/petition/create
The other place to start is your local government. Contact your state's congressman or woman and state senator.
Are you kidding me? This happens with EVERY war. Those of us who remember the Vietnam war, it's bogus beginnings and the huge number of homeless vets with PTSD that were so alarming and commonplace that even the majority of Republican middle class ended up saying NO MORE WAR. But then a decade or two passes. The homeless vets sometimes recover, much more frequently die off or just end up a forgotten "old crazy guy" still digging in the dumpster for food and huddling under newspapers on the park bench at night. Then the Neocons start beating the drums for the next war for profit and the gullible public thinking they want to be "good patriots" run off to kill, die and/or break down as the result of the new horror and everyone is "shocked" by "this new phenomenon".
It's the same old song dance where the "little people" pay the price for the unbridled blood lust and greed of the wealthy Neocons who laugh all the way to the bank and few have the wisdom or courage to admit it's this pattern that prevents humanity from ever really flourishing.
There's no guarantee evolution leads to an upward path. Most species eventually fail and sometime self destruct. The humans, by this type of proof, very clearly, show they are, most likely, a species doomed to failure.
"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss." -from Won't Get Fooled Again, The Who
This is what happens when you bring home troops just for political gain.
Some of these troops wanted to make a career out of the military (like I did).
We were all volunteers.
The troops left behind on the battlefield are now outnumbered and death rates are going up.
Now the troops are coming home and are not being allowed to re-enlist.
NOW they are joining the new military.
The Obama Unemployment Corps.
Viewer_Ready,
It's called Reduction in Force (RIF) and it happens at the end of every major conflict. You are not unique. It happened at the end of WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Gulf War and now OEF/OIF. The country simply can't afford a wartime military longer than the war takes. You can blame Obama all you want but the two previous RIFs I lived through were under a Republican Administration...so it makes no difference who the President is.
Homeless but can afford a Cell Phone and Bluetooth?
If so, why so many welfare recipients have ipods, cable, nice cars, cell phones, oh wait, those are obamaphones.
Please lets not go there with the mockery, item in question could be a sound amplifier, why so quick to judge? By the way, free phones started in 1995, under Clinton and continued under Bush, no federal money involved.
So tell us VL -- how many many welfare do you know?? My guess NONE. But then, Fox cultist like you never allow reality to stand on the way of your thinking.
Here's a little Trivia for you:
1. Which Administration instituted the LifeLine Program (Obamaphones as you like to call it)?
a. Jimmy Carter
b. Ronald Reagan
c. Bill Clinton
d. Barrack Obama
Answer: b. Ronald Reagan in 1985
2. Which was the only President in American History to grant Amnesty to Illegal Aliens?
a. Jimmy Carter
b. Ronald Reagan
c. Bill Clinton
d. Barrack Obama
Answer: b. Ronald Reagan in 1986
Sorry you're not a winner but thank you for playing
...nice spin, but horribly misleading. The Lifeline program as it exists now has been bastardized for years and is NOTHING short of a ridiculous, out of control, mutation of its original self - the SPIRIT of the original program was to provide emergency phone services for seniors, etc... now the program has EXPLODED under your current POTUS (from 7M to 17M overnight) and is flat out abused. Nobody NEEDS A CELL PHONE to survive - we managed to live for centuries without them. You should do some of your own research instead of just parroting the incomplete information so many brain dead people here post... Want me to go into amnesty too? No, I'll let you look that one up. Google is your friend.
airlar73
You're right, google is our friend. Did you know, for instance that the current configuration of LifeLine was set by George W. Bush in 2008?
So tell me, how evil can the Program be if it was initiated by a Republican President then converted to cell phones by another Republican President? Are you telling me that neither Ronald Reagan nor GW Bush are conservative enough?
And why are you trying to deny the actions of two Republican Presidents...including the saintly Ronald Reagan...I believe that is sacrilege...you'll smoke a turd in hell for that!
It's a sick nation that refuses to take complete care of its wounded vets who risked their lives to defend it. This is NOT the greatest nation in the world!
http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/why-does-the-u-s-government-treat-military-veterans-like-human-garbage
Obismal cut their PAY and BENEFITS, nice move dementalcraps
Another lie from the right wing propaganda machine and their slow witted followers who have "faith" and are the first to scream for cuts to "entitlements" to pay for another tax break for the Neocons and the wars they sponsor. Goebbels [Nazi propaganda chief] would be proud.
Ernie
Thank the republicans for voting against the veterans job bill, not the democrats.
Democrats wrote the bill with a healthy measure of bipartisan support: Eight of the 12 provisions in the bill were Republican-generated ideas, according to Sen. Patty Murray, chairwoman of the Senate’s Veterans Affairs Committee. The bill included contributions from legislation Heller had introduced earlier, to protect the small-business interests of military families. Under the proposed bill, widowed or orphaned relatives of troops killed in action who are bequeathed their fallen relative's small business would be treated as veteran owners, and be given the same preference for government contracts as veteran-owned businesses.
Murray called the vote “a stark reminder that ... Senate Republicans are willing to do absolutely anything to fulfill the pledge they made nearly two years ago to defeat President Obama — it doesn’t matter who gets in their way ... even if it’s our nation’s veterans.” She later added: “Veterans are watching this vote closely.”
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/sep/19/heller-sides-democrats-veterans-jobs-bill-gop-stil/
Ernie, the Republican controlled House of Reps., have voted no on every GI Bill submitted for enactment during the past three years. Ryan's "marvelous" budget calls for a 13% reduction in the VA Budget, your anger is misplaced, its not the Democrats with-holding essential funds.
"Obismal cut their PAY and BENEFITS"
"Ryan's "marvelous" budget calls for a 13% reduction in the VA Budget, your anger is misplaced, its not the Democrats with-holding essential funds."
Ditto-head Fox cultist like Ernie aren't interested in FACTS. Rush the junkie and Fox trains them on exactly what to say as well as how to say it and they and just like parrots, they repeat it. I sure he thought on November 5 that Romney was going to win in a landslide because Fox told him so.
Most people have no idea what a tremendous blessing it is for peace in the world and to finally slow the voracious war machine, our only hope to reestablish a vibrant economy, that Vulture Capitalist Romney and Fascist for Corporations Ryan did NOT get in.
WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After the biggest war in history (World War 2), which was less than 70 years ago, vets didn't have this problem. Why? it's simple: the US had the largest manufacturing sector in the world. Jobs were everywhere for everyone of any skill set. Note the last part - ANY skill set.
Now, unless you're in medicine, law or have good computer networking skills, it seems the best you can hope for is to start at the bottom at somewhere like Walmart or Target and maybe work your way up the ladder.
I completely blame this on the government and business sector. And it ALL started with Reagan. Period. I'd even go so far to say that Lyndon Johnson was the last president who actually cared for the people.
LBJ cared for the poor, that is why he laid the ground work to increase their numbers, from then till now???
What is it with FOX ditto heads and rewriting history? LBJ's "War on Poverty" program actually worked. In the decade following the 1964 introduction of the war on poverty, poverty rates in the U.S. dropped to their lowest level since comprehensive records began in 1958: from 17.3% in the year the Economic Opportunity Act was implemented to 11.1% in 1973.
The reversal came with Ronald Reagan's "War on the Middle-Class" which shifted huge amounts of wealth from the middle-class to the wealthy over a period of 30 years, culminating in outsourcing, off-shoring and the economic crash of 2007.
Shameful, all of our Vets deserve assistance and care. After service, follow up care essential. I find it difficult to understand turning ones child away because of lack of room, make room. Offer a safe haven, follow up with a sit down with local VA rep., do what it takes to keep your loved one off the street. That said, if may be the Vet themselves who spurn assistance, regardless, assistance should be available for those in need. Enough wasted money floating around in Washington, Vet assistance a no-brainer.
Another byproduct of war. WHEN are we going to learn our lesson? I served in a combat unit in Vietnam in 1968 as a Medic. Too many of us came back blind, crippled and crazy. Now Vietnam is forgotten but the memories and hardships many VN vets still face is real. So I can understand the plight of our current vets. The VA is simply incapable of handling the enormous number of these soldiers. But somehow we continue to pay our Washington fat-cats enormous salaries and the greatest benefits money can buy - our money. I would like my money to go to a cause that hits us here - in all our communities. These soldiers MUST be taken care of - with dignity and respect. We owe them everything. And while we're so willing to wave a flag on Veteran's Day, we have an obligation to do whatever we can to help them. The wars that they fight now will be a memory one day but their pain is real every day. Don't let that happen.
This AMERICA is a SHAME to be happing to AMERICANS...
What have we become...pitiful.
These men and women could be your son or daughter...sir.
How about less spending at the White House for elaborate Christmas decorating.
Take the money and donate it to help the needy.
Charity starts at home.
Not a penny is spent on *White House elaborate Christmas decorating*.
After 44 presidents there's quite a collection of ornaments & decor.
Trees & greenery are donated.
Volunteers come in to set everything up.
There's an increase in ppl paying to tour the WH to see how it's decorated, so it ends up making $ in the end.
That has nothing to do w/ homeless veterans.
How about writing your Republican reps in Congress about this instead:
Senate GOP Obstructionists Throw Veterans Under The Bus-Vote Down Bill To Help Vets In Need Of Jobs
All White House tours are free.
Our government should be ashamed . This should not be happening. This is what happens when you fight for this country, you get treated like @!$%# when you come back home.
I am continually amazed at the entitlement mentality even among veterans. I did not seek any help from the VA after discharge. The thought never even entered my mind. There was a short period of time while I was in the military when we got food stamps. My wife went to the commissary and used them and came home and said that she would never use them again. (she was embarassed) We both got part time jobs and managed just fine. As bad as returning Vets were treated during Vietnam, I sometimes think that the overt dislike we experienced was better than the tired platitude "Thank you for your service". Over the past 15-20 years I have seen an attitude shift in this country. Some young people apparently have the attitude that they are entitled to a job. They get hired, clock in, do as little work as possible and whine and cry about having to work holidays. So my advice to veterans is simple. Get work doing anything, and work work hard. If you can't find work, go somewhere where you can get work. Over the years, I have worked in jobs that I was not really happy with, but I still worked hard and was rewarded. When I was a kid, my dad worked three part time jobs to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table.
The point is quit your griping and work and get help if you need it from anyone but the government.
Dave, you are a heartless a-hole. Just because you were probably never deployed into an combat-zone, does not mean that you can speak to the experience of vets who were. PTSD is a serious issue and the fact that you would deny the need for help to your fellow vets makes me wonder whether you served in the first place. And if you did, shame on you.
So quit YOUR griping and work to help your fellow vets, if you have even served to begin with.
Vet need jobs. Harry Truman at the end of WW-II put a quota on imported manufactured good to give the Vets jobs to come home to. Today our self serving politicians dance with the ones who brung-um. Not voted for them but financed their success. These self serving politicians have allowed most of our good paying manufacturing job to be sent over seas TAX FREE, no OSHA, no EPA, no FICA, etc etc. Yep TAX FREE. Fronkly I don't see any chance for change The Republicans are not going to do it and for dam sure that half Breed Kenyan is not going to suggest it. The control freak will hustle up more welfare for illegals but if you are self supporting? He will tax you where you are not self supporting.
Obama should use the money from downsizing the military to help veterans.Not use it for his other projects.
We should also stop giving billions away to dirt farms like Israel, Pakistan and all other mooches that do nothing but bleed us dry.
"Obama should use the money from downsizing the military to help veterans.Not use it for his other projects."
President Obama nor any other president can just spend money at will on anything they want. Congress has to approve all spending and this Republican controlled House is more interested in keeping tax breaks to the likes of Donald Trump than they are in veterans.
The sky is falling! The sky is falling! Quick, we need a lot of money!
Ya know the best way to take care of the veterans coming back is to have a strong economy with a lot of jobs, not a lot of new government dependents.
Oops. Forgot for a moment, everybody wanted Obama's form of government.
STUPID!
Kenny - Free thinker and ultra lib don't really go together. You've got to conform to the PC thought police.
Oh, so it's President Obama and the Democrats who are the greedy b*stards, is it? I don't think so. It's the Republicans who fight, tooth and nail, every attempt to bring up the standard of living for the working poor and lower middle class. Wealthy Americans and corporations (all Republican) who fight every attempt to raise the minimum wage, fight unions, ship jobs overseas, pay off their politicians and otherwise do everything they can to keep as much profit as they can and tight fistedly refuse to share their vast wealth/profits with their rank and file.
They are too short sighted to realize that by being so greedy and not treating their employees well they are primariy responsible for most of our country's economic problems. Americans consumers are the customers of American companies and they are BROKE. Wages stagnant for the past 50 years. Many people not working at all. Almost all of the wealth gained in the past three decades (and there has been plenty of it) has gone to the top 10%, especially the top 1%. It's the fault of those keeping all the gains for themselves that the government has to step in and try to right the inbalance and instability. If the privileged few would pull their heads out of the rears, pay their employees more and treat their employees like the valuable constituency they are then maybe the government wouldn't have to wring it out of them with more taxes.
It's funny how those who are actually responsible for the economy are the first to point fingers. Thirty years of trickle down economics, outsourcing for corporate profits, tax breaks for corporations to off-shore for increased profits...two unfunded wars, Medicare Part D unfunded and tax breaks for the wealthy, also unfunded...and you have the balls to blame the Democrats?
Suggest you read some research articles on the "Conservative Brain". Not that you'd believe any of it...after all, it's science.