From Deseret News archives:
Over ¼ of U.S. homeless are veterans
And study identifies 1,500 from current wars living on streets
"It's been a hard struggle," said Bowen, 62, as he rolled a cigarette outside a homeless processing center in downtown Philadelphia, where he planned to seek help for his drug and alcohol problem, as he has before.
Every night, hundreds of thousands of veterans like Bowen are without a home.
Veterans make up more than one in four homeless people in the United States, though they are only 11 percent of the general adult population, according to a report to be released today by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, a public education nonprofit group.
And homelessness is not just a problem among middle-age and elderly veterans. Younger veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are trickling into shelters and soup kitchens seeking services, treatment or help with finding a job.
The Veterans Affairs Department has identified 1,500 homeless veterans from the current wars and says 400 of them have participated in its programs specifically targeting homelessness.
In comparison, the VA says that 20 years ago, the estimated number of veterans who were homeless on any given night was 250,000.
Some advocates say the early presence of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan at shelters does not bode well for the future. It took roughly a decade for the lives of Vietnam veterans to unravel to the point that they started showing up among the homeless. Advocates worry that intense and repeated deployments leave newer veterans particularly vulnerable.
"We're going to be having a tsunami of them eventually because the mental health toll from this war is enormous," said Daniel Tooth, director of veterans affairs for Lancaster County, Pa.
While services for homeless veterans have improved in the past 20 years, advocates say more financial resources still are needed. With the spotlight on the plight of Iraq veterans, they hope more will be done to prevent homelessness and provide affordable housing to the younger veterans while there's a window of opportunity.
"When the Vietnam War ended, that was part of the problem. The war was over, it was off TV, nobody wanted to hear about it," said John Keaveney, a Vietnam veteran and a founder of New Directions in Los Angeles, which gives veterans help with substance abuse, job training and shelter.
Recent comments
Did I miss it? I am a fairly thorough news reader, and to my...
Former army wife | Nov. 26, 2007 at 9:20 a.m.
I think that the men and women who serve our contry deserve all the...
drugs are not the only way. | Nov. 8, 2007 at 5:37 p.m.
Too bad the Deseret News just copies an Associated Press article...
Ed | Nov. 8, 2007 at 5:36 p.m.
- Kruger pick sets up Ravens victory 10:25 p.m.
- U. eyes bowl for redemption 10:22 p.m.
- Y. student vanished in China 10:11 p.m.
- Poll: Limbaugh top conservative 10:03 p.m.
- Birthdays for Monday, Nov. 30 10:01 p.m.
- For-profit colleges get fed aid 9:58 p.m.
- Senate opens health-care debate 9:57 p.m.
- Many pilots run out of gas 9:56 p.m.
- Utah Jazz: Gameday glance 9:55 p.m.
- Iran plans large-scale N-facilities 9:52 p.m.
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- BYU is champion of the state
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- Credit Coug defense for win
- Field goals, penalties doomed Utes
- Cougar defense rose to occasion
- Marriage definitions vary widely
- Banged up Jazz get best of Blazers
- Jones' joy for life remembered
- Fantasy is reality for BYU professor
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
855 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
472 - BYU is champion of the state
136 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
117 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
116 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
90 - Max Hall issues apology
89 - Hall's legacy measured today
79
When I was a kid, I worshipped my grandpa. He was undoubtedly my hero....
RIP. My heart goes to his family.
Amy, what a great article. You get it. Keep up the good work.
Paul Krueger's pick in tonight's NFL game looked a lot like his pick of Max...
Way to go Haley!!! Hope to see you playing for the U!
Of course he doesn't mean it, but kudos for trying to make up for heated...
Why don't ya all keep your comments to the game of football. I agree that...
Many (most) of us started our careers in hourly non-benefited jobs. That's...
I got tired of all the "hate" of the Ute fans at RES several years ago and...
I graduated from both the U and the Y. I choose to cheer for the U because...
I'm a huge byu fan but I am sadly disappointed in the way Hall let his anger...



