According to the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans, there are over 57,000 U.S. servicemen and women without a home. These people served in the Armed Forces going all the way back to World War II. Many of them suffer from mental illness, alcoholism, drug addiction, or a combination of these.
The reasons why there are so many homeless veterans are intertwined and complex. Lack of affordable housing, low or no income, lack of family or support networks, and poor access to health care are the most common ones. The Coalition believes it should be a priority to provide clean, livable quarters to homeless veterans, along with access to mental and physical care.
While federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can assist in providing homes to homeless veterans, Veteran Energy believes it is up to all Americans to play a role in connecting these forgotten heroes with those who can help.
A visit to the VA website page on homeless vets will display many resources civilians can use to get housing assistance. They can print wallet cards with the agency’s phone number–(877) 4AID-VET–that can be given to veterans who are or are about to become homeless; these vets can then call the number, and the VA will put them in touch with organizations that can provide financial or housing help. They will also find pages devoted to resources for physical and mental health care, and employment programs. The site allows visitors to print collateral materials such as posters and brochures.
It is the VA’s lofty and laudable goal to end veteran homelessness by 2015. However, the agency cannot do it alone. If you know a veteran living on the streets or who is in danger of losing his or her home, be the connection between them and the help they need.
One way local Houston residents can get involved is the annual Houston Stand Down, taking place this year at the Young Women’s Preparatory Academy, 1906 Cleburne, on October 3 – 4. Volunteers reach out to homeless vets with services such as food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling, referrals for housing, employment and substance abuse treatment. If you would like to volunteer, please contact HoustonStandDown[at]gmail.com.
