Causes of this issue
There are many causes to this issue. Many veterans are homeless.
The causes of homelessness among veterans include:
- They have a lack of support
- They have poor living conditions (if any living conditions)
- They have money problems including credit card debt
- Veterans have low marriage rates and high divorce rates
- More pessimistic about their future
- Transition to civilian life
- Lack of training for employment
First Hand Accounts
Many veterans have problems finding jobs and a lot of them blame it on being a veteran.
In one interview a reporter interviewed a homeless veteran.
"Who said, 'Welcome Home?'"
"Another 'Nam Vet. They didn't give a f*** about us..."
"Are you homeless now?"
"Yeah, kinda."
"'Kinda?' What do you mean 'kinda'"?
"I sleep where I want to whenever I can. It ain't nothing."
"There used to be a two-year transition for veterans before they left service so they could put a plan in place and decide where they wanted to live and what they want to do with the rest of their lives as civilians," says Mechel Lashawn Glass. "Now with the drawdown, many veterans are given 30 to 60 days' notice to leave the military and start a new life," she states. She also includes, "The emotional, physical, and behavioral challenges for veterans are unique because so many of them have been overseas for years and don't really know where to begin. They usually go home but find that their families and friends have all changed or even moved away."
There are a lot of veterans out there who are homeless. However some are successful in overcoming homelessness just like United States Army Veteran Gerald King. Churches, non profit organizations, and volunteers all helped to get and fill an apartment with furniture for Gerald. "I really didn't have any idea what to expect," King said, "As long as I'm not at the shelter, it's all good." As long as you seek out for help, help will come. As long as you stay positive, things will turn around for the better.