Why are AmericanVeterans from the Afghanistan and Iraqi war homeless?

Question

I read and article in the news today that totally shocked and angered me.300,000 of these vets get <400 dollars a month to live on if they are discharged not disabled.Yet we sent millions to some low lifes who didn't want to work.in New Orleans.What is wrong with that picture.Do we not honor those who fight for our freedom.OMG we need to write our congressman about this

Answer 1

Sweetheart, don't put two groups against each other. It is shameful that some in N.O. used their benefits foolishly. They should be caught and punished. That said, it isn't a choice of one or the other. The support given to the people of N.O. was handled poorly. Vouchers are the only way to assure that things will be used appropriately. Few people, when given "free money" use it wisely.

That said, veterans are among the largest of the homeless population. A lot of is has to do with poor mental health care for Veterans of War. War is a scarring emotional experience. It took Vietnam Veterans years to get the military to recognize the mental distress their experience had caused them. Today we call it Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. We also realize that it happens to people who have experienced other major traumas. We are likely to see many (especially young people) who will be suffering symptoms of this from Katrina.

Without proper treatment, PTSD can become completely debilitating. Nightmares and flashbacks can lead people to a lack of sleep. They will frequenly self-medicate with alcohol or sleeping pills and become addicted. With proper treatment, PTSD is easily treatable.

The other issue is the military's refusal to recognize Gulf War Syndrome. A friend of mine has massive miscolored patches of skin all over his body after serving in Iraq in '91. They don't really cause him pain, but they itch badly when he sweats to this day (that's 15 years). Dermotologists have no idea what it is and his VA doctors say he's causing it by scratching (for 15 years apparently). He also developed testicular cancer that spread to his abdomen. Yet, he gets no additional benefits or protection despite serving our nation.

How patriotic is that?

Don't compare them to others who suffered who then made poor decisions. Just feel your compassion for our mistreated veterans and do write your representatives and tell them to stop cutting veterans benefits. In 2003, right before going to war in Iraq, the Republican House cut $844 Million in Veterans Healthcare Benefits. If not overturned, that will cost our veterans $24.7 Billion over the next ten years. That's the kind of support the House gives your soldiers, and it's wrong.
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And before anyone says anything: I worked with the homeless for four years. What have you done to help?

Answer 2

ok,ok slow down drop the pen. first if you saw it in the news your congressman already knows they get the papers too.second, if the guy in the military comes back from Afghan comes back poor it's his own fault. As far as i know Afghan still falls under hazard pay and tax-free zones. So even the guy making less than $600per month take home pay is pocketing another $1000 dollars in special pay and they are not being taxed. And if a vet get out of the military 9 times out of ten he vontarily left so he left a job with the best dental and health plan around without another job and ended up homeless.
wow, i am shocked. Honestly what do you want the government to do give these people housing. done in many states there are goverment housing. plus before you shed tears for these poor souls the veterans are qualified to recieve a $200,000 home loan have the gi bill which pays them $1084 a month for school and several state run programs like veteran preference for jobs. so either these are unaware that there is help or unwilling to ask. so put down your pen and paper and if you would like go to your nearest VA office and ask them what they think about that situation . they are in the phone book under Veterans Affairs see the goverment has a whole Agency to help these guys out
it was established after Vietnam because of the way those Veterans were treated.

Answer 3

As a Vietnam Vet, let me offer this thought. Veterans are a subset of the normal population. They have good things happen and bad things happen just like the rest of the population. When a vet is discharged, he is unemployed for a time until he can find a job. It took me nearly a year to find a job after Vietnam (poor timing - I came out after it was over and already the market was flooded with veterans - so jobs were hard to come by for awhile). A small percentage of vets then and now have no family support system to fall back on until they can get back into "the world". The $400/month must be an 'unemployment' compensation until they find a job. As long as they are healthy, it is expected they will re-adjust to civilian life and get on with their lives. There are a lot of government and independent non-profits that will help a homeless vet. A lot of them that may fall into this catagory, may be too 'proud' to seek help for homeless persons. Regardless, I think the numbers you have read are bogus or at least misstated. Regardless, the greatest assistance and help needs to be focused on those who are wounded and disabled - and to assist those who left struggling families behind when they died. Vets who did their duty and returned should be proud and we should be proud of them. If they are leaving the military, the adjustment will have to be made - and they can do it. They have a lot going for them. This crop of young people is amazing.

ADDED NOTE: Bear in mind that there are about ten times (10 X) the number of people who claim to be Vietnam Vets thana there actually are. It is a VERY common ploy to gain sympathy by people who are otherwise unemployed, homeless, scam artists, or glory seekers. I am sure the same phenomena takes place in the current crop of citizens.

Answer 4

As a veteran serving in Iraq and soon-to-be civilian, I think I have a pretty good perspective on this.

Right now Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan get paid over $1000 per month in bonuses for serving in hostile duty locations. In addition, all our pay is tax-free. Everything is provided for us, so we have no expenses (unless we have a wife/husband and children back home). Soldiers who pay attention can save up at least $60,000 in the year they are deployed.

When someone separates from the military, there are many programs to help them write a resume, plan for the future, etc. The Montgomery GI Bill will pay for people to take college classes. Plus, if that person is a veteran, there are even more programs available to help them get on their feet, such as the VA Home Loan program. Prior service military get preference in being hired for most, if not all, federal and state government jobs, and they can put their military service time towards seniority and retirement in that government job.

Veterans are not given any pay from the military or government after their service ends, unless they are permanently injured or disabled. The $400 a month you mentioned is most likely unemployment benefits. It sounds to me like there are a lot of vets out there who have the mentality that somebody owes them something because they went to war. If you ask me, they are being lazy. If they are in good health, they should get off their duffs and get a job so they can have someplace to live like everyone else. If they do not want to be productive members of society anymore, the government should not give them a dime.

Answer 5

It is very disturbing to hear that Soldiers and veterans are being treated so shoddily. You walk around any city today and you see them on the pavements, or queing up for some night shelter, it is sad.

I have volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army who do wonderful work, caring for feeding and clothing those who are misfortunate to have no roof over their head. I praise the wonderful volunteers who compassionately give their time and love to helping those brave men and women who have been discarded on the scrap heap by this government once they are no longer of use.

The true figure of the hundreds of thousands who've been maimed by the Iraq war have never been released. Even worse are the effects of the emotional breakdown and mental stress caused by the war. Soldiers have done two or three consecutive tours return stressed out, having nightmares and post traumatic stress, yet we never read about this in the papers, the Pentagon covers up those figures and there any many many thousands of such cases. Someone earlier said it's only the poor who go to war, that may be true, but they sure as hell deserve better treatment than to be cast on the scrapheap of society when injured, disabled pyhsically, emoitonally or mentally. We have a moral responsibility to those brave men and women.

Answer 6

I am a veteran and my husband is still Active Duty. I did not expect or have ever received any money when I got out. My husband does not expect any money from the government when he gets out, unless he serves the full twenty years and gets retirement pay. I do think that the military should get paid more while serving. But when you quit or are fired from a civilian job, do you expect your former employers to still pay you? No. You go out and find another job with the experience you have received from your former job/jobs. Plus, while you are serving there are SO many opportunities available to military members to invest their money so that when they do get out, they are financially okay. Unfortunately, many do not do this. They spend the little money they get paid to "keep up with the Jones'." That is no one's fault but their own.
Finally... We don't join the military so that we can be honored by our countrymen, we join for the honor in serving our country.

Answer 7

What you are saying is that 300,000 Afghanistan and/or Iraqi vets are jobless after their discharge. Did the article offer any proof of these numbers?

I don't know the numbers, but lets say there are about 250,000/year deployed at any one time. Over three years, that's 750,000 so 40% remain jobless. Sorry, don't believe it.

Answer 8

I sent phone cards to Walter Reed because the poor troops like from New Orleans could not call home much. Now Walter Reed is closing because of Bush cuts. But at least the gays can`t marry and flags can`t be burned and congress got raises right

Answer 9

All the money in the country is owned by people. So who do you want to give money to the homeless vets? How much have YOU given?

How much money do you think it would take to get 300,000 people on their feet? $10,000 per person? $30,000? That's $9 billion dollars. Who's pocket do you want to reach into to get that money?

Answer 10

Where you get 300,000 and since when do they get $400 a month. I am a vet and I didn't get $400 a month when I got out. Is this something new!!!???