| United States homeless veterans include a significant | | | | homelessness, the primary reason veterans are |
| growing number from the current wars in | | | | homeless is the lack of affordable housing.. And, this |
| Afghanistan and Iraq. Many suffer from post | | | | problem keeps getting worse, rather than better. |
| traumatic stress disorder and severe sleep | | | | Regardless of religious, political or other persuasion, |
| deprivation. Often those who have never suffered | | | | there is no excuse for the citizens of the United |
| from the inability to sleep are unaware of how great | | | | States to allow even one veteran or one veteran's |
| of a toll such a problem has, in preventing those who | | | | spouse or child to be homeless. Politicians who |
| do from being able to function well enough to hold | | | | refuse to help them should be voted out of office |
| down a steady job. | | | | and candidates who don't place helping them at the |
| Many veterans have lost their civilian jobs due to | | | | top of their agenda should not be voted for in the |
| extended tours in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere | | | | first place, regardless of party or position on any |
| and upon returning home, find it very difficult to | | | | other issue. |
| support themselves and their families. Many who | | | | Americans who sit idly by and make no attempt to |
| are not currently homeless are in danger of becoming | | | | address and alleviate problems of poverty in general |
| so, especially in growing economic hard times. | | | | and the plight of homeless veterans and children in |
| In 2006, approximately 196,000 veterans were | | | | particular, demonstrate a severe lack of patriotism. |
| homeless on any given night, up from an estimated | | | | And, they display a severe lack of historical and moral |
| 194,000 in 2005. Estimates of the total number of | | | | understanding and absence of personal ethics, |
| homeless veterans in the United States currently | | | | responsibility, respect and dignity. |
| exceed 500,000; this figure doesn't include spouses | | | | Do Americans who ignore the plight of homeless |
| and children, who may also be homeless or severely | | | | veterans really support the troops? Can we march |
| impoverished. | | | | in parades waving flags pretending to be patriotic |
| An additional half million more pay over 50% of their | | | | while continuing to ignore our growing homeless |
| income to cover their rent or mortgage. In the | | | | population, regardless of the reasons why they are |
| United States, 26% of the homeless population are | | | | homeless? |
| veterans, while they represent only 11% of the adult | | | | What manner of nation claims to be the greatest |
| population. In Tennessee alone, there were | | | | nation on earth and to be a beacon for freedom and |
| approximately 2800 veterans homeless on any given | | | | democracy to the rest of the world and yet, her |
| night in 2006 and, numbers have steadily increased | | | | citizens continue to look the other way while growing |
| due to the worsening economy since then. | | | | numbers of homeless veterans and children struggle |
| According to many social service providers, while lack | | | | in plain sight to somehow survive? |
| of income, disabilities, physical sickness, mental health | | | | Why are there homeless veterans in America? You |
| issues and substance abuse all contribute to | | | | decide. |