The Disgrace of Veteran Homelessness Essay

FACTS: The most effective programs for homeless and at-risk veterans are community-based, nonprofit, “veterans helping veterans” groups. Programs that work best feature transitional housing, with the camaraderie of living in structured, substance-free environments with fellow veterans who are succeeding at bettering themselves.

Too many veterans in the United States are living on the streets and in need of a permanent shelter. A home, a place to call their own, is a basic need for anyone. However, after so much time spent living in barracks, or in war zones, this is especially a need for a veteran. The stability of a home is an important part of adjusting to civilian life. There are few programs actually designed to facilitate veterans in finding homes. The percentage of homeless veterans is appalling. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness veterans comprise 8.6 percent of the homeless

In the US homeless population, veterans are slightly overrepresented (Tsai & Rosenheck, 2015). To be exact, veterans constitute 12.3% of all homeless adults (Tsai & Rosenheck, 2015). A study by Harpaz-Rotem, Rosenheck, & Desai (2011) also affirms that roughly 30% are homeless men and 4% are homeless women. By definition, homelessness is not having “a regular or fixed night-time residence,” and homeless people tend to move frequently, stay in homeless shelters, and sleep in places such as vehicles and abandoned buildings (Tsai & Rosenheck, 2015, p. 1). With this in mind, it is important to note that homeless veterans are mostly older males who some form of health insurance coverage than other homeless adults, better educated, and have been married or married (Tsai & Rosenheck, 2015). One would think that these advantages should put veterans at lower risk for homelessness, but this was not the case (Tsai & Rosenheck, 2015). Additionally, a study done by van den Berk-Clark & McGuire (2013) portrays that elderly civilians were less likely to become homeless in comparison to elderly veterans (aged from 51 to 61 years (39%) and 62 years or older (9%)) who were twice as likely to become homeless. Risk factors that can potentially explain homelessness among elderly veterans include life events (e.g., death of spouse or marital breakdown, exiting employment, and evictions), mental illness or medical conditions, minority status, and higher levels of disruptive events during childhood

The majority of homeless veterans have service connected disabilities that are a direct result of military service; this contributes to a high risk of homelessness among veterans. Unique military skills that are non-essential in the civilian sector, combat related health issues, fractured family relationships and the lack of affordable housing are other factors. Many of them lack a social support network and/or someone to assist them with getting assistance from the government. They may be unaware of the different services they require and are

“It’s like the path of least resistance... After a while, your self esteem gets really low and you don’t feel competitive any longer… Like you are already defeated.” (Applewhite ¶ 17). A quote from a homeless veteran shows how even though he has tried to relieve himself of the homelessness, it does not always end with the outcome that he wants, which leaves him feeling defeated, as well as thousands of others. About ⅓ of the homeless population are veterans, and they are usually the ones that need the most help (VA Expands Partnerships ¶5). The struggle that homeless veterans face everyday in the United States is a growing problem that needs to be fixed because it will continue to get worse. The healthy and productive success of

Imagine one making a huge decision to leave family, friends, and a familiar lifestyle to go serve and protect their country for months or years at a time. Imagine one risking their life and putting forth their time just to come back to no home, money, or health care while have developed a mental illness. The government promises all of these benefits one may never see and they end up on the streets without a home finding ways to cope which may lead to addiction. A study shows that “There are estimated to be about 50,000 homeless veterans on any given night with about 1.4 million others at risk of becoming homeless, the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans said, citing government statistics” (Shaw). Many of America’s homeless veterans have served in World War II, the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, and many other wars. Nearly half of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam era. Two-thirds served their country for at least three years, and one-third were stationed in a war zone. Homeless veterans all across America come from different backgrounds and homelessness does not discriminate against gender. These veterans, including males and females, suffer from homelessness due to: being unemployable; suffering economic hardships; battling substance abuse, and lacking proper legal aid. Yes, there are plenty of resources out there to assist the homeless veterans that may help some but there are still too many veterans living on the streets.

In spite of having many advantages, veterans over-represent in the homeless population. The question “Why?” begs an answer. Forty years have passed since the Vietnam Conflict ended and homeless veterans became a representative image in American society. Surprisingly, it appears there are no studies on the factors contributing

There has been an increase in veterans, approximately 107,000 whom are unemployed and homeless, while 1.5 million veterans are poverty and homeless. These veterans live in various dismal conditions suffering from disorders while lacking social support. (National Coalition for Homeless Veterans) This epidemic attracts the attention of politicians, sociologists, etc. whom are unconcerned with the fate of veterans in America. Professor Tull, insisted that to resolve the problem, he argued that the main reason for homelessness was that the veterans had PTSD which had negative influences. (Tull) This reason is that the PTSD should be treated with various ways, such as cognitive-behavioral treatment, which unfortunately some veterans can’t handle

In conclusion, the population of the homeless veterans has gone up over the decades due to many problems or disorders that can develop, but there are many programs and support systems trying to reverse this problem. Programs and support systems are being put in place so there will be a lower amount of homeless veterans. Homeless veterans population can be seen over the years, even from the Vietnam-era and more recently from Iraq and Afghanistan wars. In the recent wars with Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who were exposed to traumatic events come back from combat are different from who they were before. The traumatic events that the veterans were exposed to have an effect on them when they come home and try to transition back to the

There has been limited examination of pre-military factors such as childhood problems, associated with homelessness among veterans. A study by Tsai and Rosenheck, (2012) examined childhood problems among homeless veterans and its relation to severity of homelessness and outcomes in supported housing. Despite the common assumption that military experience is the cause of veteran homelessness, studies suggest some of the problems veterans experience after the military actually stem from pre-military factors (Tsai and Rosenbeck, 2012). There have been few studies on the childhood experiences of homeless veterans. These studies have found that childhood physical or sexual abuse, placement in foster care, and other childhood hardships increase vulnerability for homelessness. Tsai and Rosenbeck (2012) further noted that no study found has examined whether conduct disorder behaviors during childhood are associated with adult homelessness among veterans; however, important linkages have been found between criminal justice involvement and homelessness in veterans. More importantly, to our knowledge, no study has examined the association of childhood problems and outcomes among

The issues of accessing more permanent supportive housing options and ending veteran homelessness, has been recognized by many community stakeholders. These community stakeholders consist of Homeless Continuums of Care, including non-profit and faith based homeless service providers, local governments, Supportive Services for Veterans Families providers, Public Housing Authorities, Veterans Services Organizations, human service non-profits, landlords, and businesses. Governor Terry McAuliffe recognizes the need for preventing and ending veteran homelessness by restoring hope and dignity to our veterans and providing the housing stability necessary to rebuild their lives in Greater Richmond (Homewardva, 2015). Even though veteran homelessness

The United States military is the strongest military that the world has ever seen. However if it is to continue to remain a dominant power it must remain in key positions throughout the world. The United States military is used for more than just fighting the nations wars, it is also used as a diplomatic tool, a deterrent, and to assist in stabilizing the world economy. The effects of reducing U.S. troop presence around the world will have repercussions in more aspects than simply military strength.

Another type of homeless people-who have suffered a recent surveys of homeless adults report that veterans appear to lot and don't deserve to be in this position- are the veterans. Several compose a substantial part of homeless population. Their presence among homeless populations contradicts popular notions about military service, since the military is perceived as a setting where physically and mentally fit adolescent males mature into men (Richard D. Bingham et al. 65). Also the

The United States military is a trusted entity however it’s very powerful and possesses the capabilities to become tyrannical without sufficient supervision and control.

According to The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, homelessness has increased for the first time in seven years; in 2017, almost 554,000 people were homeless (The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 2018, 1). The population of America in 2017 was over 324,459,000 people (Worldometers 2018). This means for every 10,000 people there are 20 who are homeless. Out of the homeless people in the United States, 40,000 were homeless veterans, and 35% of them are living in “places not suitable for human habitation” (The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 2018, 52). This essay will illustrate the sociological perspectives – symbolic interaction, functionalism, and conflict theory; along with considering how they apply to homelessness in our veterans.