Veterans, particularly poor and minority veterans, are 50 percent more likely to become homeless compared to other Americans, according to a report released last week by the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) departments. The report also stated that almost 76,000 veterans were homeless on any given night in 2009, and approximately 136,000 veterans spent at least one night in a shelter. Approximately 44,000 to 66,000 are chronically homeless.
Most often, underlying causes of homelessness among veterans are their socioeconomic backgrounds and "personal factors," as well as a lack of affordable housing, the report said. Veterans' experiences prior to joining the military also have a significant causal relationship, putting those who were physically or sexually abused as children at a greater risk for homelessness. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other brain injuries are also a high contributing factor.
Following the report's publication, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan said, "Understanding the nature and scope of veteran homelessness is critical to meeting President Obama's goal of ending veterans' homelessness within five years."
HUD and VA are creating a joint program to target homeless veterans that will provide rental assistance and clinical services to those who are approved. The federal departments will also work with community groups to provide them with resources such as Section 8 vouchers, helping veterans find and keep affordable housing.
The government's plan to address veteran homelessness is "an auspicious beginning," said Michael Blecker, executive director of Swords to Plowshares, a nonprofit organization that provides services for veterans in the San Francisco Bay Area. "It's promising because it gives us the resources we didn't have before." Nearly half of the country's homeless veterans live in California, Texas, New York and Florida. Swords to Plowshares helps more than 2,100 homeless and low-income veterans annually.
rest at http://www.truth-out.org/government-start-fighting-homelessness-among-veterans67857
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