Comments on: Study: 1 Out of 4 Homeless Are Veterans

By: Lord Nazh

Lord Nazh — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 03:09:24 +0000

While One homeless vet is one too many; the numbers aren’t that big (in the ‘scheme’ of things).

http://blogs.dailymail.com/donsurber/2007/11/08/homeless-vets-scare/#more-2258

Don has the numbers and the scoop.

By: Bloviating Zeppelin

Bloviating Zeppelin — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 01:32:34 +0000

As another officer, I can unequivocally state that SSG Deron is ABSOLUTELY correct. Many actively CHOOSE and WANT that life, and will FIGHT YOU to keep that style. You have to keep in mind that, at least in the major urban area in which I work, the jobs of the Homeless Pimps DEPEND on keeping the homeless homeless. And I am not yet ready to swallow that Kool Aid statistic. From my current view, that does not apply. Gunz is also correct insofar as there are TONS and TONS of services available not just for the veteran homeless but homeless in general. But as with other aspects of life, you have to WANT to change or move or displace paradigms. And I am still not quite buying that statistic. It just doesn’t validate my experience.

By: Basti

Basti — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 16:27:21 +0000

IMO, many of the homeless Vets are in that condition because they aren’t in the military any more for what ever reason. And no I don’t mean that like it sounds. I’ve known/know many Vets that for them the military was the end all be all of all that they’ve done or every will do. In other words being in the military was/is what they are cut out to do. Once their service in the military is over for what ever reason, its pretty much over for them as far a a career goes.
Again IMO, some people we just suppose to be military people and when that’s no longer possible, they don’t care to do anything else. I don’t think this is a ‘fixable’ problem as long as the people you want to fix don’t want to be fixed.
Some of this may be due to post combat stress, however who is to say that if a person is a homeless Vet today that barring military service he still would not be a homeless non-Vet today.

By: gunz

gunz — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 15:03:00 +0000

It doesn’t surprise me, I worked for the country EMS and these homeless veterans were a lot of our calls.

PTSD doesn’t mean you’re t-totally nuts, it can be awarded in various level of percentages, aka the VA board rating system for a veterans particular illness and it’s severity.

I have it, and I’m not homeless, in fact I can be self suffient and raising a daughter. Teenage at that.

Heres the thing, these guys know there’s help. The VA isnt going to turn them down unless they were dishonorably discharged. I wonder how many of this statistic simply don’t qualify?

I also know of homeless vets that do get a check, they drink it away and do not attend counseling. Those I have no sympathy for period. Not if they refuse treatment which is often the case and this statistic is too high for vets that are truly down on their luck vs those that choose to live that way.

By: BobF

BobF — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 14:08:43 +0000

Good post Fred and right on the money. Ssg Deron is correct too. The help is there for the Vets and has always been. The government and Vets orginizations like the VFW and Legion are always reaching out to Vets. They have people who will help them get their benefits and they will give them a hand in getting their lives back together but they have to want it.

Every GI leaving the military possess skills that their civilian counterparts don’t. For one, they are disciplined and know how to take and give orders. Everyone from the lowly private to the 4-star general is taught to think for themselves and once a person makes E-4, they’re taught leadership and supervisory responsibilities.

Their always those who truly need help, especially in the mental area. The military tries hard to identify these folks and get them the necessary help. Unfortunately we can’t identify them all because, in truth, it’s hard. I once worked with one of the sharpest NCO’s I’ve ever encountered. He was the epitome of professionalism until the day he robbed a store and then committed suicide in his garage. I could have saw others in the unit doing that but never him.

By: Phil Mills

Phil Mills — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:48:36 +0000

I was recently in a VA center for a job interview. A gentleman came in requesting information in order to get a veteran off the streets. The VA reps had no clue as to what to do or what was available to this individual.
What I see from the VA is such a sense of apathy. Not a single person got up out of their seat! I would have been out of that damn office and trying to do something a little more proactive. We have such a lazy system in place that it is no wonder that nothing gets fixed. What the VA needs is an influx of new blood that includes veterans of recent wars. I am in the process of contacting my congressman in order to discuss the shortcomings of our VA system.

By: SSG Deron

SSG Deron — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 04:57:31 +0000

All I can say is that I know for fact that some of these guys don’t want to live any other way. As a Police Officer, I have dealt with many Homeless People who identify themselves as Veterans and they think that the best thing for them is the streets. I know it’s a sad fact that a man that puts his life on the line for his Country lives on the streets but, that is part of life. I hate to say it like that but it’s the truth. Alot of these guys leave home for simple reasons and feel that they can’t go back. Some eventually return home and others don’t make the attempt. Anyway you look at it, these guys deserve better but, sometimes you can’t understand why they do what they do. Like it’s been said before, “You can lead a Horse to water but, you can’t make him drink”. I knew there were alot of Homeless Vets outhere, but I never realized it was that many. God Bless them. God Bless America.