With 131,000 homeless veterans in the United States, it is no wonder that the Veteran’s Administration has developed a new plan to end homelessness among veterans within five years.
Studies show that though physical disabilities are barriers to employment and housing, it is the disabilities that we cannot see that more gravely affect veterans. Among these problems are PTSD, depression and addiction and though there may not be visible signs of these issues, they are no less pervasive to the very integrity of these men and women that served our country.
Eric Shinseki, the Secretary for Veterans Affairs, outlined a plan on November 3rd that provides preventative services in addition to reactive services to veterans. It also provides leniency for small business owners that are veterans along with educational benefits for advanced degrees and training upon their return.
Shinseki claims that while it is important for the federal government to take control of the situation, it moreover needs to be in the hands of the local government and grassroots organizations. It is these people that are on the front lines and see the despair and struggles that our veterans go through day-to-day upon their return from serving our country. They are able to identify the needs and treat them, but that the government should be funding these efforts.
I’m not going to preach about how we as a country are seriously failing those who’ve fought for us, or how there are people suffering from mental illness when there are plenty of resources to help them, or that this issue should’ve been on the forefront of the VA years ago. All I’m going to say is that I’m glad that it’s becoming an issue and that needs are finally being met for our heroes.
Below are two links, the first one which outlines the specific plan and its 5 points; the second is a more in-depth look at the issue.
http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1807
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200991104027
No comments:
Post a Comment