| Copyright 2007 Colorado Veterans Alliance |
HOMELESSNESS AND ADDICTION AMONG VETERANS
Veterans of recent conflicts, specifically Iraq and Afghanistan, are
returning in greater numbers and will place a heavier burden on
already strapped programs. 1.5 million Americans have already
served in Iraq and Afghanistan and many will be requiring services
for years to come.
Officials in the public and private sectors are making preparations to
cope with the increased caseload. Recent trends indicate that
federal and state agencies are woefully under prepared to meet the
needs of current Veterans, let alone future Veterans.
Subsequent to Vietnam, the last conflict that saw a large increase in
returning Veterans, many Veterans ended up homeless, without
access to essential services necessary to resume their pre-combat
lives. Most Americans are all too familiar with the "homeless Vietnam
Veteran" stereotype.
With the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan ongoing, alarming reports
have begun to surface in the media about Veterans returning from
service ending up in homeless shelters across the nation. As some
Iraq war vets become homeless, they join the approximately 300,000
veterans the VA estimates are homeless in the US at any given
moment and the half-million who experience homelessness in the
course of a year.
In the future, many more homeless Iraq war vets will need mental
health treatment. Studies show that mental health issues for
homeless vets begin later in their lives -- as much as twelve years
later. They will seem to be doing well mentally, despite being on the
street, and then some event will trigger a problem.
The public should be really concerned about that because the VA
does not have the facilities or resources to treat the current number
of homeless vets with mental health issues, let alone any new ones.
More often then not, the homeless Veterans are struggling with any
number of addictions. Gambling, substance abuse, alcoholism all
take their toll on Veterans who may lack the resources to cope with
post-combat life. Space dedicated to treating addiction amongst
Veterans currently needing treatment, let alone future Veterans.
With Iraq Veterans becoming homeless years sooner than Veterans
of previous conflicts, now more than ever, all levels of government
need to step up and keep their promise to the defenders of
America's freedom.
The government's initial response to the increasing homelessness of
newly returning Veterans is a step in the right direction. Much more
needs to be done on the local and state level to reach at-risk
Veterans with to prevent the cycle of homelessness from ever
beginning.
Veterans of recent conflicts, specifically Iraq and Afghanistan, are
returning in greater numbers and will place a heavier burden on
already strapped programs. 1.5 million Americans have already
served in Iraq and Afghanistan and many will be requiring services
for years to come.
Officials in the public and private sectors are making preparations to
cope with the increased caseload. Recent trends indicate that
federal and state agencies are woefully under prepared to meet the
needs of current Veterans, let alone future Veterans.
Subsequent to Vietnam, the last conflict that saw a large increase in
returning Veterans, many Veterans ended up homeless, without
access to essential services necessary to resume their pre-combat
lives. Most Americans are all too familiar with the "homeless Vietnam
Veteran" stereotype.
With the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan ongoing, alarming reports
have begun to surface in the media about Veterans returning from
service ending up in homeless shelters across the nation. As some
Iraq war vets become homeless, they join the approximately 300,000
veterans the VA estimates are homeless in the US at any given
moment and the half-million who experience homelessness in the
course of a year.
In the future, many more homeless Iraq war vets will need mental
health treatment. Studies show that mental health issues for
homeless vets begin later in their lives -- as much as twelve years
later. They will seem to be doing well mentally, despite being on the
street, and then some event will trigger a problem.
The public should be really concerned about that because the VA
does not have the facilities or resources to treat the current number
of homeless vets with mental health issues, let alone any new ones.
More often then not, the homeless Veterans are struggling with any
number of addictions. Gambling, substance abuse, alcoholism all
take their toll on Veterans who may lack the resources to cope with
post-combat life. Space dedicated to treating addiction amongst
Veterans currently needing treatment, let alone future Veterans.
With Iraq Veterans becoming homeless years sooner than Veterans
of previous conflicts, now more than ever, all levels of government
need to step up and keep their promise to the defenders of
America's freedom.
The government's initial response to the increasing homelessness of
newly returning Veterans is a step in the right direction. Much more
needs to be done on the local and state level to reach at-risk
Veterans with to prevent the cycle of homelessness from ever
beginning.
| Our Mission: To ensure the enactment of policies that properly provide for our Troops and Veterans, keep our military strong, and guarantee our national security for the purpose of a stronger America. CVA uniquely empowers Veterans to use their credibility and experiences to speak truth to power, shape public opinion, and place a priority on these issues. |
| COLORADO VETERANS ALLIANCE |
| "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive how the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation." - George Washington |
