An Estimated 200,000 U.S. War Veterans Are Homeless

[Jcrowley]

More Veterans Calling The Streets Home
An Estimated 200,000 U.S. War Veterans Are Homeless



NEW YORK, March 25, 2007
(CBS)

Quote

"We have no inkling of the full scope of the problem."
Roy Kearse of the homeless shelter Samaritan Village


(CBS) Hassam Elgoarany knows the price of war.

He fought in Afghanistan and then in Iraq, where a sniper's bullet took his best friend.

"His head got blown off — I get nightmares about that," said Elgoarany.

The Muslim-American sailor drowned that pain in alcohol, reports CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller, but drinking only led to an early discharge.

Back at home, he couldn't find work. His wife took their baby boy and left. Robbery led to prison.

When he got out, Hassam became one of many homeless veterans.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/25/eveningnews/main2607024.shtml

[babylonsister]

1. I'm glad cbsnews is bringing this up, but will it be discussed anywhere else?

:-(

[Suich]

2. There are several "panhandlers" in my neighborhood

whose signs say they are veterans and I always give them at least a couple of bucks. If they're pulling some scam then karma will take care of it. I tend to think they are vets and it makes me very ashamed.

:-(

[Cobalt Violet]

3. K & R

Very sad.

[Bitwit1234]

4. A lot of empty homes.

You know what. All over this country there are empty warehouses, empty buildings that are boarded up. Why cant' the state, the federal government etc take these places, let the veterans work to help repair and fix them up. Then have like boarding houses. That way they will have a place to stay while they find jobs. If if the go to work at fast food places and the like they would have a place to stay and what they pay in rent could be affordable. At least these people would have a place to stay.

[Monkeyman]

5. That Number is low it does not take the Veterans Families into account

[Big Pappa]

6. While I truly feel for these Vets,

this guy is just a damn thug and a criminal. "Robbery led to Prison".

[mod mom]

8. WTF He saw his friend's head blown off-don't you think that might mess you up?

[Big Pappa]

9. I

am pretty damn sure there a lot of WWII , Vietnam, and Iraq vets that saw their friends blown to pieces. How many of them turned to robbery? It's about behavior. Because you need a drink does not mean you can start robbing people.

[Sapphire Blue]

10. Walk in his shoes... then comment on his life.

[Big Pappa]

11. I have.

I did 5 deployments to the Middle East from 1990 to 2003. There is no bowl of gravy waiting when you get home. You have to just keep going.

[Jcrowley]

12. Different people

react differently.

Now back to the OP.

The Criminality of The State as it uses its pawns for War.

[Big Pappa]

15. I

totally agree. So many Vets are desperate for help and none is there.

[mod mom]

17. Well I'm sorry it left your heart so stone cold. Have you no compassion for

other's suffering?

[Big Pappa]

18. Yes

I do have compassion for other Vets. But most others are not out robbing people.

[mod mom]

19. He's obviously messed up and needs help!

[Big Pappa]

21. I agree he does need help.

But that still does not excuse robbing people.

[Monkeyman]

14. Allot of Nam Vets went to jail

Others are walking in a funk not even known where they are. PTSD and other mental problems are why 80 percent of these vets are homeless. You want to talk to people who deal with this everyday like me but these two vets have done something about it.

http://www.helpaveteran.org ask Dirk or Bob

Dirk Gulf War One Vet
Bob Combat Medic Vietnam

[mod mom]

16. Haven't you ever heard of mental illness. Thanks to the war criminals in the WH,

there are alot of good former military soldiers who have had their lives ruined. They need help not snide comments.

[Chemical Bill]

30. I thought that a lot of Vietnam vets...

turned to heroin. Just sayin'.

Bill

[nam78_two]

22. Thank you for your compassion.nt

:sarcasm:

[Big Pappa]

23. Never said I did not have compassion.

But thanks for your observation. Look these people do need help, but the vast majority are not out robbing people. Or do you think since this guy has PTSD he is excused?

[nam78_two]

25. I don't know but I think the point is

its a fucked up system :shrug:
This guy is just one of many who got caught up in the machinery. Maybe many people "dealt" with it better than he did, but ultimately this is about the war profiteers and war criminals who have put him and others like him through the wringer and then tossed them aside.
The Bush-thugs have been cutting veterans benefits consistently for a while now.

Just my two cents :). (I didn't mean to imply you lack compassion seriuously btw-just a knee-jerk reaction to what I perceived as a rather harsh comment.)

[Big Pappa]

26. No prob.

And I totally agree that "its a fucked up system".

[Monkeyman]

27. PTSD alone is no excuse but if he hsas other major problems yep

As for compassion I have allot . I work with vets everyday. Allot of these kids returning who are boots have major problems. Compassion is needed and more funds to deal with the problems. Three time over can mess your minds up if you are on the ground.

[Morgana LaFey]

29. Well, let's put you through the same paces and see how well YOU

do. My guess is: not much better. Unless, of course, you're a sociopath, someone without a conscience or any compassion for anyone other than yourself.

[mod mom]

7. More national shame thanks to bu$h and his war profiteer cronies!

:mad:

[Sapphire Blue]

13. I sincerely hope that everyone who reads this thread contacts their Senators & Reps to fully fund...

... Federal Housing programs.

If anyone would like further info about what the Fed gov't has done to HUD, please feel free to peruse my journal (http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Sapphire%20Blue); there are several relevant posts... I'm too tired right now to find & post the individual links.

Thanks for posting this, Jcrowley. K&R

[nam78_two]

20. Thats a heart-breaking picture. K&R.nt

[lonestarnot]

24. Infuriating.

[Time for change]

28. Isn't that outrageous?

What fraction of what we spend on the Iraq War every year, or on the near abolition of the inheritance tax would it cost to provide jobs for these people so that they could live decent lives -- or places to live for those who are too disabled to work? I'll bet it wouldn't cost anything at all because their work would make up the difference.