What do you think of the fact that 70% of the homeless are men, 1/3 of which war veterans?

Question

so much of our government taking care of the heroes, huh?

I'm strongly anti-war because I lived in Iran during the 7-year Iran-Iraq war (in which the US strongly supported Iraq and its regime) and saw our windows blown out enough times, not to mention all other destruction war brings. I still get panic attacks if I hear thunder in the middle of the night. But I feel resentment towards dirty politics and politicians, not the innocents who fall victim. Many of the homeless are Vietnam war veterans...

This question was triggered by an answer I gave about homelessness. Here are more facts if you care to discuss: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Al5RzhqXDe0aLkV7p.S6dLnty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071215023658AAizJgJ&show=7#profile-info-0avV2Nzxaa

Scrooge: You're right, I will double check my notes, but I believe those are the shorter-term homeless, while these are the permanent homeless. I put up another question about women which your facts may fit under.

Scrooge: I did the research to prepare for an exam, and have my notes without citations, but I will dig out the sources. Give me 30 mins.

You can find the numbers in this research by UC Berkeley, although this is not the only one I used. If you need more sources, email me and I'll find them for you. Thanks for your source also, I will check it out. The more we share information about this kind of stuff, the better.

http://www.igs.berkeley.edu/events/homeless/NewHomelessnessBook1.pdf

Answer 1

I guess this guy was right: http://www.bushflash.com/vets.html

Answer 2

It is shameful, and sad. The worst part is that the problem continues to outstrip the government's willingness / ability to dedicate resources to provide adequate housing (and other assistance) for those in abject poverty.

A somewhat hidden (but profound) cause of the dramatic increase in homelessness, is the breakdown of the family and community safety net. In prior generations, there were more built-in safety nets since families (and communities) were better able and willing to care for their own in times of crisis. Families and communities rallied around those who needed a hand more often.

Now with more single parent families, a near 50% divorce rate, increased drug addiction on the part of parents, unmarried teenage mothers and fathers, record number of fathers (and sometimes mothers, especially minorities) incarcerated, and the horrific after effects of warfare, the community / family safety fails far more frequently than in past generations - and individuals and families end up on the street.

As a kid in NYC, men who lived on the streets were just "bums", and there weren't tens of thousands of them (that I can remember). I don't ever recall hearing the word "homeless", ever.

Without the family / community safety net, the government has greater responsibility to provide that net, but the resources simply have not been allocated. It is a sad situation, and the problem is global.

There is much more that can be said about this. Very good question.

Answer 3

I'm just wondering if you were educated in Iran or the USA? You say you are totally against war, which tells me you think there is a group of people that are for war. When we supported Iraq it was the better of the two evils. Yes in life there are tough decisions that need to be made, and some are chosen simply because doing nothing would be worse. Its unfortunate that we live in a society that still even today try to concur and control people with force in an effort to put forth there own agendas. These people would not be deterred by weak people with good intentions, all they would see is how easy it would be to take over such a weak minded person to get them to do there bidding. If you would take the time to study thy history of man on earth you might understand that war today, just as it was from the beginning of mans time, is a good against evil conflict. I do understand your resentment and detest with these people who make war against another group of people. Until we mature as a species were going to need to protect our self's from these animals and make sure that the ideas and cultures that carries on to the future generations is the best we can do for the next people that will occupy this world. Take a look at the veterans that are retired from there service for there country and have blended in with the rest of us. These people are the ones that deserve our admiration. They make most of our lives seem tiny and minuscule in comparison to what there able to accomplish. All there sacrifices and still able to stay out of the cardboard boxes with there hand out. If you would ask them how they feel about the burdon they carried for the rest of us, You would understand how determined we are to win the good fight.

Answer 4

I know, the Department of Veteran Affairs is so ****** up! It's such Washington bureaucracy! I remember hearing that over 119 Iraqi war veterans commit suicide everyday, and the Dept of VA didn't even comment or keep any such records, this was all independently studied!

This is why I support Ron Paul, get rid if these useless wastes of our money, or at least shape them back into real productive departments that contribute to We The People.

Answer 5

This happens in every war. This is hardly a recent phenomenon. Many of those who are homeless veterans are mentally ill, suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome, alcoholics, and drug addicts. Those politicians who continue to think war is such a great idea obviously have never served in the military themselves. Otherwise, they wouldn't be so eager to start wars and send other people's children over to fight and die for them.

Answer 6

Thanks to the destruction of families and the misandry exhibited against men. Most of these homeless vets have no family support system and fell hopeless and useless.

I don't say this to be cruel as a Veteran who has been homeless I know that the lack of family support is a key factor in their homelessness and I suspect it is similar for abused women as well. When you go from a combat environment to a peaceful one the mind just seems to be unable to make the jump over to a peaceful mindset. Alas many of us stay in combat mode for the rest of our lives and I think this applies to victims of domestic violence as well BOTH male and female victims not just female.

Answer 7

The apathy our government seems to show towards homeless veterans is appalling. I hang my head in shame every time I think of it as all Americans should.

EDIT to the GNU clone: I would think you'd get a little bored with your game by now. I know I am.

Answer 8

Well, obviously you're going to have less female war veterans, since back then the military was predominately male.

As for why most are male, that's rather simple. Traditionally, women have been financially dependent on males, thus males are more likely to be on the street, because women don't have to look far to find someone who cares for them. Men have to be self-reliant, something we're taught from a young age.

Answer 9

Iam sure american men didnt fight for a nanny state. Socialist style intervention should withdraw out of private lives and not extend further. If the goverment wouldnt pay all those single moms money and welfare they would think before spreading their legs. On the other hand, families have the nasty habit to provide a solid basis for education and we need people stacking shelfes bagging groceries and flipping burgers.

Answer 10

It's a tragedy. I disagree though that because many war Vets suffer mental illness, that nothing can be done for them.
Sure, treating people with mental illness is difficult, but it shouldn't be put in the "too hard" basket and conveniently forgotton about either.

Answer 11

This is one of the most lamentable examples of how sad and unfair the world can be.