Homeless Heroes in America
On Any Given Night, 200,000 Veterans Sleep on the Streets
Homes for Heroes was being actively discussed in Congress when a bill was introduced in Congress by Barack Obama in 2007 to provide housing for veterans . The Homes for Heroes Act never made it to a vote. Today there are still 200,000 Americans who once wore a military uniform sleeping on the streets in America.
Support the Troops History
America's promise to "Support the Troops" seems to have ended as soon as he or she took off their military uniform. Many were unable to make the transition to civilian life as they encountered the sometimes hostile and cumbersome bureaucracy of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
- At times, the wait for a wounded veteran to even hear back from the VA was six months or more.
- Those who appealed a denial decision by the VA might wait as long as four and a half years for their answer.
- In the six months leading up to March 31, 2008, nearly 1500 veterans died waiting to learn if their disabillty claims would be approved by the VA.
At this date, there are few signs that the VA has changed its ways. (Veterans Today, 01/09/2009)
The Homes for the Heroes Act
On April 12, 2007, then Senator Barack Obama introduced H. R. 556, the Homes for Heroes Act, a bill that was supposed to help provide housing for low income veterans and to at least begin to solve the problem of homelessness among American's military veterans. Some of what was included:
- Directions to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide assistance to private nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives to expand the supply of supportive housing for very low-income veteran families.
- Amending the United States Housing Act of 1937 to (1) make housing rental vouchers available to homeless veterans; and (2) include veterans in public housing planning.
- Exclude veterans' benefits from income for purposes of HUD assisted housing rental determination.
The Bill died in committee. Today America's homeless veterans, many of whom are afflicted with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, with resulting substance-abuse problems, are still on the streets.
Veterans Organizations Suing U.S. Government
In December, 2008, the Vietnam Veterans of America and Veterans of Modern Warfare filed suit in federal court demanding the government decide disability claims brought by wounded soldiers within three months. However, on December 17, 2008, the VA succeeded in blocking the effort.
While even countries like Zimbabwe and Nigeria are using small housing made of paper for their homeless, on any given night, 200,000 U.S Veterans still sleep on the streets of America.
Bibliography:
Glantz, Aaron. The War Comes Home: Washington's Battle Against Americans Veterans. University of California Press, 2009
Veterans Memorial
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