Homeless Iraq Vet Numbers Expected to Grow/ WaPo

From Serving in Iraq To Living on the Streets
Homeless Vet Numbers Expected to Grow

By Christian Davenport
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, March 5, 2007; B01

<snip>

The number of homeless veterans from recent wars is hard to gauge. From 2004 to 2006, the Department of Veterans Affairs provided shelter to 300 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan tours, out of the tens of thousands who have served.

That figure "is not even close to accurate," said Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, because it doesn't include the "others sleeping in buses, their cars or on the streets." In New York City alone, he said his organization has helped 60 homeless veterans since 2004.

As in the Vietnam War era, when thousands of vets ended up homeless, there are already signs that the recent conflicts are taking a traumatic psychological toll on some service members. Many veterans' advocates said that despite unprecedented attempts by the military and Veterans Affairs to care for veterans, increasing numbers of the new generation of warriors are ending up homeless.

"This is something we need to be concerned about," said Cheryl Beversdorf, president of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, a Washington-based nonprofit.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/04/AR2007030401526_pf.html

Hopefully, our new Congress can get something done about it.

from the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans

A NATIONAL TRAGEDY

Each night in America, nearly 200,000 veterans sleep
under bridges, in alleys and abandoned buildings
because they have no home. They are this nation’s
forgotten heroes – men and women who once proudly
served in a military uniform. Though only 9% of the
U.S. population have served in the armed forces, 23%
of the homeless people in this country are veterans.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates
that more than 400,000 veterans will experience
homelessness at some time during the year.

There are many factors that contribute to the
disproportionately large percentage of veterans who
become homeless. Many struggle with Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance abuse issues or
other psychosocial problems. Many of those factors are
related to their military service, or their difficulty
returning to civilian life.

As much as housing, most homeless veterans need
medical care, employment training and placement
assistance, and other supportive services. According to
its own estimates, VA programs will reach only about
25% of the homeless veterans who need assistance.

http://www.nchv.org/docs/NCHV%20Brochure%204.06.pdf