John Whitehead's Commentary
Homeless Veterans: A Shameful and Disgraceful Situation
The daily news headlines paint a grim picture of the kinds of situations American servicemen and servicewomen are dealing with in Iraq. Yet while the media, politicians and analysts talk much about the peril facing American soldiers abroad, very few seem to give much thought to what will happen once these soldiers have done their duty and returned home.
Tragically, many of those who are able to return home will come back with not only mental and physical problems, they will also come home to lost job opportunities and broken families. Many will be haunted by the deaths of comrades and the stress inherent in war. For some, their experiences will be so life- and mind-altering that they will be rendered almost destitute, incapable of resuming their former lives.
A case in point is the number of veterans of past wars found among the nation's homeless. America's homeless veterans have served in most of the major wars, including World War II, Korea, the Cold War, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Gulf Storm, Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as police operations such as the military's anti-drug cultivation efforts in Latin American countries. And 67 percent have served our country for at least three years, with 33 percent having been stationed in a war zone.
In fact, according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, one out of every four homeless males who is sleeping in a doorway, alley or box in our cities and rural communities has at some time put on a uniform and served our country.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that roughly 300,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. The VA also estimates that more than half a million vets experience homelessness over the course of a year. The vast majority of these homeless veterans are single males (only 2 percent are females). Most come from poor, disadvantaged communities. Forty-five percent suffer from mental illness, and half of them have drug and alcohol abuse problems.
The physical and psychological toll that war takes on those in the armed services is undeniably great. Witnessing comrades die in action and having to put their own lives on the line, it is understandable that large numbers of displaced and at-risk veterans live with the lingering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder. Compounded by a lack of family and social support networks, these veterans often resort to substance abuse. The fact that the VA can only help to a certain degree makes their situations that much worse. As reported by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, with an estimated 500,000 veterans homeless at some time during the year, the VA reaches only 20% of those in need. That leaves 400,000 veterans without services.
While many politicians are eager to offer their gratitude for those who fought America's wars and sacrificed so much to keep us free, the men and women who have served in our armed forces deserve more than platitudes.
So what needs to be done?
First, the Bush Administration, in cooperation with Congress, should make our returning veterans a top priority by drastically expanding available services for them. It is not enough to make speeches and build monuments in their honor. If we're really serious, then we must dedicate some of our tax dollars to creating programs whose focus is rehabilitation and sustenance--specifically, so that veterans can find adequate housing and reach a point where they can obtain and sustain employment.
Nothing with any lasting impact can be achieved, however, unless we all commit to doing our part. Because funds from the American government are so severely limited, reaching only one in 10 of those in need, community groups must also do their part. This means that help from the private sector and community-based, nonprofit groups and churches is essential if we are to adequately help provide the support, resources and opportunities most Americans take for granted--that is, housing, employment and health care--which many veterans are desperately in need of.
If we really intend to "put veterans first," as the Department of Veterans motto suggests we do, then isn't it time we make sure the men and women who laid their lives on the line for our safety and freedom are properly taken care of? Although this will not solve the problems faced by many older veterans, at least it's a starting point.
Tragically, many of those who are able to return home will come back with not only mental and physical problems, they will also come home to lost job opportunities and broken families. Many will be haunted by the deaths of comrades and the stress inherent in war. For some, their experiences will be so life- and mind-altering that they will be rendered almost destitute, incapable of resuming their former lives.
A case in point is the number of veterans of past wars found among the nation's homeless. America's homeless veterans have served in most of the major wars, including World War II, Korea, the Cold War, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Gulf Storm, Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as police operations such as the military's anti-drug cultivation efforts in Latin American countries. And 67 percent have served our country for at least three years, with 33 percent having been stationed in a war zone.
In fact, according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, one out of every four homeless males who is sleeping in a doorway, alley or box in our cities and rural communities has at some time put on a uniform and served our country.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that roughly 300,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. The VA also estimates that more than half a million vets experience homelessness over the course of a year. The vast majority of these homeless veterans are single males (only 2 percent are females). Most come from poor, disadvantaged communities. Forty-five percent suffer from mental illness, and half of them have drug and alcohol abuse problems.
The physical and psychological toll that war takes on those in the armed services is undeniably great. Witnessing comrades die in action and having to put their own lives on the line, it is understandable that large numbers of displaced and at-risk veterans live with the lingering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder. Compounded by a lack of family and social support networks, these veterans often resort to substance abuse. The fact that the VA can only help to a certain degree makes their situations that much worse. As reported by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, with an estimated 500,000 veterans homeless at some time during the year, the VA reaches only 20% of those in need. That leaves 400,000 veterans without services.
While many politicians are eager to offer their gratitude for those who fought America's wars and sacrificed so much to keep us free, the men and women who have served in our armed forces deserve more than platitudes.
So what needs to be done?
First, the Bush Administration, in cooperation with Congress, should make our returning veterans a top priority by drastically expanding available services for them. It is not enough to make speeches and build monuments in their honor. If we're really serious, then we must dedicate some of our tax dollars to creating programs whose focus is rehabilitation and sustenance--specifically, so that veterans can find adequate housing and reach a point where they can obtain and sustain employment.
Nothing with any lasting impact can be achieved, however, unless we all commit to doing our part. Because funds from the American government are so severely limited, reaching only one in 10 of those in need, community groups must also do their part. This means that help from the private sector and community-based, nonprofit groups and churches is essential if we are to adequately help provide the support, resources and opportunities most Americans take for granted--that is, housing, employment and health care--which many veterans are desperately in need of.
If we really intend to "put veterans first," as the Department of Veterans motto suggests we do, then isn't it time we make sure the men and women who laid their lives on the line for our safety and freedom are properly taken care of? Although this will not solve the problems faced by many older veterans, at least it's a starting point.
ABOUT JOHN W. WHITEHEAD
Constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead is founder and president of The Rutherford Institute. His most recent books are the best-selling Battlefield America: The War on the American People, the award-winning A Government of Wolves: The Emerging American Police State, and a debut dystopian fiction novel, The Erik Blair Diaries. Whitehead can be contacted at staff@rutherford.org. Nisha Whitehead is the Executive Director of The Rutherford Institute. Information about The Rutherford Institute is available at www.rutherford.org.
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