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.
Admirable idea, and those who served deserve better from this country, but can we afford it? And are the non-vets in the identical condition less worthy? And what about the unemployed bankers? And…
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Whenever a Veterans issues are a result of being in a foreign war then it is our responsibility as a country to provide the services they need.
Period
And yes they are different than other people with similar issues.
The Roman emperors that were wise knew that to maintain a strong Praetorian Guard was key to their success in warding off assassins or coups. Too much money and leniency meant the Praetorians would become licentious and ineffective. Too little, and a revolt was guaranteed.
What was needed was an “honourable poverty”.
This is why ribbons are sold to Americans to slap on their Hummers. No need to actually support the vets. Just show your “support” for a dollar. And the vets can see the entire country is behind them. Honourable indeed!
This is America, who cares if we can actually afford it?
Republicans only honor dead soldiers, not live ones. Too much trouble.
“but better education opportunities can decrease homelessness in the future.” /// With our totally corrupt Congress in full swing, in the near future, we will ALL be homeless.
#1–says: “and yes they are different than other people with similar issues.” /// Certainly a generalization with “lots” of exceptions???? But the valuable point offered by our good moderator goes unanswered: are similarly situated non-vets any less worthy – – – generally speaking with lots of exceptions?
What is the “worthiness” of someone’s humanity??
Well duh! A nation like the USA with it’s impressive all volunteer military depends greatly on recruitment. Nothing quite like seeing a homeless vet begging loose change on your way to school, to turn you off to the idea. Especially if, as is common these days, he’s missing a limb. The sooner they get these guys off the street the better for the hawks and their foreign wars.
I would suggest accelerating the US withdrawal from Iraq and not increase US forces in Afghanistan and use the money saved to assist veterans, but I would probably be labeled un-American.
#6–amodedoma==my my. Full of spit and vinegar. Well done. Only one flaw in your analysis: the military recruits from the young, ignorant, and naive. If any of them ever even say an injured vet, like every other idea in their lives, it would not have stuck.
Appeals to Patriotism==just one more big lie in governments ongoing downward spiral.
#3 said “This is America, who cares if we can actually afford it?”
This whole damn country has turned into one big entitlement machine. Is it too late to try to get a little common sense in any discussion of entitlements?
Some vets need (and deserve) help, some need and deserve no more help than non-vets (but expect it) but try weeding those out.
And yes, I’m a vet.
Next stimulus they should just send out a few million dollars in yen to everyone and cut out the middlemen.
#9–Ranger==you say: “Is it too late to try to get a little common sense in any discussion of entitlements?”==and then your suggestion is: “Next stimulus they should just send out a few million dollars in yen to everyone and cut out the middlemen.”
And that should give you your answer.
How about getting a proper count? Homeless ‘advocates’ just make up stuff about how there are 10 million homeless.
Why, oh why do you add to this the possibility, or question of, the bankers?
I have a lifelong held ambition that bankers do indeed become homeless. Actually rather more than that, I meant lifeless, as in deceased, cremated,becoming ‘the late’. Like the Norwegian Blue, an ex species, gone to that great bank in the hot place to join their creator.
I hold the same for most politicians – but then I’m just an old softie – can you detect my social beliefs from this?
#10 Bobbo
Point well taken – to paraphrase Will Rogers, when Congress makes a law it’s a joke, and when they make a joke it’s a law.
Think everyone has heard of Will Rogers? I wonder?
Why only wartime vets? They also serve who only stand and wait, dumbass. Who the f*ck do you think protects this country in-between wars? The f*cking girl scouts?
#8 bobbo
You’re telling me? I was recruited in 1976 at age 15 (under the Delayed Entry Program). They were recruiting in my school and I was insecure about my future. But at the time there were no declared wars. Later aboard the USS Ranger I discovered that declared or not, that didn’t keep bombs from falling from our planes on Lebanon.
Somethings can’t be helped, I’ve tried. Substance abusers are a slave to their brand of poison. Many street people are there because of booze and illegal drugs. You can clean them up, get them work and housing, and most will end up back on the street after taking you for everything. I know that sounds damn cold, but the pie will only slice but so thin and will not feed everyone. You have to invest the most for the greatest return.
I’ve got a friend who loves his job. He goes to the places homeless people hang out, talks to them and then sets them up with a place to live. He knows how to do it. Sometimes folks need a little help to get back on their feet.
The US government has been pissing on its service men and women since George Washington had to fight for money to pay them with.
Must be hard for the Barack Hussein Obama administration to find new recruits for his Afghanistan surge, especially with all those eyesores hanging around the streets. The ‘solutions’ being proposed just sweep them under the rug, as to not dissuade potential new bullet-catchers. Shame on you, democrats.
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.
Cursor_
#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.