Why are SO MANY veterans homeless?

[Magpie]

I am not sure that the number is accurate, but I have read that 25% of veterans are homeless.

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness...

"In January 2014, communities across America identified 49,933 homeless veterans during point-in-time counts, which represents 8.6 percent of the total homeless population." (http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/fact-sheet-veteran-homelessness) <---- Excellent article, by the way, addressing many of the reasons why veterans can be at risk for homelessness.

According to the US Census Bureau there were 21.8 million veterans that same year.

Which means, if I didn't completely mess up my math, 0.23% of American veterans are homeless. That's about a quarter of one percent.

They're certainly over-represented in the homeless population, but no... 25 percent of US veterans are not currently homeless.

I would be very suspicious of the source in which you read that 25% percent figure. I'd recommend against trusting anything they write.

(Edited to add: Veterans represented 6.84% of the total US population in 2014.)

 

[cabanafrau]

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness...

"In January 2014, communities across America identified 49,933 homeless veterans during point-in-time counts, which represents 8.6 percent of the total homeless population." (http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/fact-sheet-veteran-homelessness) <---- Excellent article, by the way, addressing many of the reasons why veterans can be at risk for homelessness.

According to the US Census Bureau there were 21.8 million veterans that same year.

Which means, if I didn't completely mess up my math, 0.23% of American veterans are homeless. That's about a quarter of one percent.

They're certainly over-represented in the homeless population, but no... 25 percent of US veterans are not currently homeless.

I would be very suspicious of the source in which you read that 25% percent figure. I'd recommend against trusting anything they write.

(Edited to add: Veterans represented 6.84% of the total US population in 2014.)

Can't help but wonder why as a Canadian you would be so motivated to take the time to research that? Seems a tad presumptuous to give your personal opinion about an article and then caution someone else to be suspicious about the source of their opinion when your sole experience of the topic seems to be what you can glean with a Google search. I make no representation at all about what percentages of U.S. Veterans may be homeless. I have however personally interacted at least on a yearly basis with several who have been homeless at the time when they were residing at the shelter our church was hosting for the week. I also have run across a number in the course of my work over the past several years.

Doesn't quite feel like an issue for someone to chime in as any type of authority on when they don't live in the U.S., aren't impacted by the issue and aren't involved in any way to offer any assistance to the problem. Just my opinion and honest feelings about the situation without any disrespect intended.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness...

"In January 2014, communities across America identified 49,933 homeless veterans during point-in-time counts, which represents 8.6 percent of the total homeless population." (http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/fact-sheet-veteran-homelessness) <---- Excellent article, by the way, addressing many of the reasons why veterans can be at risk for homelessness.

According to the US Census Bureau there were 21.8 million veterans that same year.

Which means, if I didn't completely mess up my math, 0.23% of American veterans are homeless. That's about a quarter of one percent.

They're certainly over-represented in the homeless population, but no... 25 percent of US veterans are not currently homeless.

I would be very suspicious of the source in which you read that 25% percent figure. I'd recommend against trusting anything they write.

(Edited to add: Veterans represented 6.84% of the total US population in 2014.)

I think your math is off. I also shared that link and it says something along the lines that 11% of the veteran population is homeless.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I think your math is off. I also shared that link and it says something along the lines that 11% of the veteran population is homeless.

ETA- My mistake . In skimming the fact sheet I missed where it was being breaking down by race.

 

[Magpie]

Can't help but wonder why as a Canadian you would be so motivated to take the time to research that? Seems a tad presumptuous to give your personal opinion about an article and then caution someone else to be suspicious about the source of their opinion when your sole experience of the topic seems to be what you can glean with a Google search. I make no representation at all about what percentages of U.S. Veterans may be homeless. I have however personally interacted at least on a yearly basis with several who have been homeless at the time when they were residing at the shelter our church was hosting for the week. I also have run across a number in the course of my work over the past several years.

Doesn't quite feel like an issue for someone to chime in as any type of authority on when they don't live in the U.S., aren't impacted by the issue and aren't involved in any way to offer any assistance to the problem. Just my opinion and honest feelings about the situation without any disrespect intended.

Sheesh, it took me all of three minutes with Google and I was on the computer already.

And I may have got my sources from Google, but they ARE legitimate sources (particular the Census Bureau).

You say this is your "opinion and honest feelings without any disrespect intended?" Well, here's mine!

Do you really mean to say that you believe only Americans should be allowed to comment in threads about the USA? Seriously? Are we going to start tagging threads now, "AMERICAN RESPONDENTS ONLY"?

For the record, I was born in New Jersey. I renounced my US citizenship just last year. My mother is an American living abroad. My grandfather was an officer in the US Army Corp. My father still lives in the US, as does my half-brother, my aunts, my uncles, and all of my cousins. You're right across the border from me, and what happens in your country affects mine. Of course I'm going to have an opinion!

 

[Magpie]

...

Saw your follow up post! It's all good. (Though, you know, you can always edit your original post.)

 

[Nancyg56]

Sheesh, it took me all of three minutes with Google and I was on the computer already.

And I may have got my sources from Google, but they ARE legitimate sources (particular the Census Bureau).

You say this is your "opinion and honest feelings without any disrespect intended?" Well, here's mine!

Do you really mean to say that you believe only Americans should be allowed to comment in threads about the USA? Seriously? Are we going to start tagging threads now, "AMERICAN RESPONDENTS ONLY"?

For the record, I was born in New Jersey. I renounced my US citizenship just last year. My mother is an American living abroad. My grandfather was an officer in the US Army Corp. My father still lives in the US, as does my half-brother, my aunts, my uncles, and all of my cousins. You're right across the border from me, and what happens in your country affects mine. Of course I'm going to have an opinion!

I'm okay with your post. I chose not to take down my list, it had information that was incorrect and I appreciated that was rectified in posts that followed. I would've edited it, but I thought that might affect the posts that provided the correct information. Thank you.

 

[cabanafrau]

Sheesh, it took me all of three minutes with Google and I was on the computer already.

And I may have got my sources from Google, but they ARE legitimate sources (particular the Census Bureau).

You say this is your "opinion and honest feelings without any disrespect intended?" Well, here's mine!

Do you really mean to say that you believe only Americans should be allowed to comment in threads about the USA? Seriously? Are we going to start tagging threads now, "AMERICAN RESPONDENTS ONLY"?

For the record, I was born in New Jersey. I renounced my US citizenship just last year. My mother is an American living abroad. My grandfather was an officer in the US Army Corp. My father still lives in the US, as does my half-brother, my aunts, my uncles, and all of my cousins. You're right across the border from me, and what happens in your country affects mine. Of course I'm going to have an opinion!

I did not say only Americans could comment, nor do I think that. What I found odd and offputting, and still do, is that you chose to comment with information you gleaned from Google about a subject you do not have personal experience with and does not impact you, merely to criticize someone else's opinion and state your source is superior. If you had commented upon the subject on a humanitarian level I could understand your interest in the matter.

Homelessness of American vets does not impact Canadians directly. As humanitarians Canadians may well look at the issue and feel concern and compassion. I would imagine those who are aware of it would indeed be inclined to do so. The fact your grandfather is a vet and you have family in the U.S. may make you take an interest in the topic, but to me I would still expect that interest would result in a comment about the humanitarian situation, not prompt only a Google search merely to give stats. That is what my comment meant. I still find it an odd response to the circumstances. As I said, the comment wasn't made to offend, merely my thoughts about the fact I found it a strange approach to a humanitarian issue from someone who does not live here.

 

[Magpie]

I did not say only Americans could comment, nor do I think that. What I found odd and offputting, and still do, is that you chose to comment with information you gleaned from Google about a subject you do not have personal experience with and does not impact you, merely to criticize someone else's opinion and state your source is superior. If you had commented upon the subject on a humanitarian level I could understand your interest in the matter.

Homelessness of American vets does not impact Canadians directly. As humanitarians Canadians may well look at the issue and feel concern and compassion. I would imagine those who are aware of it would indeed be inclined to do so. The fact your grandfather is a vet and you have family in the U.S. may make you take an interest in the topic, but to me I would still expect that interest would result in a comment about the humanitarian situation, not prompt only a Google search merely to give stats. That is what my comment meant. I still find it an odd response to the circumstances. As I said, the comment wasn't made to offend, merely my thoughts about the fact I found it a strange approach to a humanitarian issue from someone who does not live here.

I was ONLY responding to the "25 percent of veterans are homeless" figure. I know the US has its social problems, some of which are indeed quite severe, but that figure was very obviously off. It jumped out at me.

So, I looked it up. And I shared what I found, including a VERY concerned and compassionate link, which I recommended people read.
You may have found that "odd and offputting". Personally, I find these last few of your posts "odd and offputting", too. So, I suppose we can find common ground, there.

 

[arminnie]

Long term homelessness is almost always due to drugs and alcohol.

I volunteer with a residential program that supports vets (men and women) getting jobs and housing. But the Vet must be drug and alcohol free - no exceptions. They get a place to live (and can bring children) and all their meals.

They get help with getting a job and part of their wages are saved so they can have a deposit for an apartment when they are out of the program. The average stay is 90 days.

The place is close to capacity around Thanksgiving and Christmas. In the summer half the beds are empty.

 

[DLgal]

The bigger problem is the levels of substance abuse in our vets AND active duty military, for that matter, along with the high proportion of mental issues that plague this population. The homelessness is a result of those things, most of the time.

 

[Nancyg56]

I was ONLY responding to the "25 percent of veterans are homeless" figure. I know the US has its social problems, some of which are indeed quite severe, but that figure was very obviously off. It jumped out at me.

So, I looked it up. And I shared what I found, including a VERY concerned and compassionate link, which I recommended people read.
You may have found that "odd and offputting". Personally, I find these last few of your posts "odd and offputting", too. So, I suppose we can find common ground, there.

I knew you were responding to me, and I was glad that you did.

 

[Magpie]

I knew you were responding to me, and I was glad that you did.

Aw, thank you!

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

Can't help but wonder why as a Canadian you would be so motivated to take the time to research that? Seems a tad presumptuous to give your personal opinion about an article and then caution someone else to be suspicious about the source of their opinion when your sole experience of the topic seems to be what you can glean with a Google search. I make no representation at all about what percentages of U.S. Veterans may be homeless. I have however personally interacted at least on a yearly basis with several who have been homeless at the time when they were residing at the shelter our church was hosting for the week. I also have run across a number in the course of my work over the past several years.

Doesn't quite feel like an issue for someone to chime in as any type of authority on when they don't live in the U.S., aren't impacted by the issue and aren't involved in any way to offer any assistance to the problem. Just my opinion and honest feelings about the situation without any disrespect intended.

I really despise this type of response. Most people that post on any DIS thread are not going to offer assistance to any problem and are just giving their opinions, thoughts, etc yet you have a problem with a Canadian or someone not an American adding their voice to the issue. Closed minded yet typical.

 

[DisneyOma]

her point is, their lying., never served just pulling at heart strings

Who is lying, the people making the calls in the OP's post or someone else? Also, by stating 'their lying" did you leave out a word by mistake, or did you mean "they're lying"?

Can't help but wonder why as a Canadian you would be so motivated to take the time to research that? Seems a tad presumptuous to give your personal opinion about an article and then caution someone else to be suspicious about the source of their opinion when your sole experience of the topic seems to be what you can glean with a Google search. I make no representation at all about what percentages of U.S. Veterans may be homeless. I have however personally interacted at least on a yearly basis with several who have been homeless at the time when they were residing at the shelter our church was hosting for the week. I also have run across a number in the course of my work over the past several years.

Doesn't quite feel like an issue for someone to chime in as any type of authority on when they don't live in the U.S., aren't impacted by the issue and aren't involved in any way to offer any assistance to the problem. Just my opinion and honest feelings about the situation without any disrespect intended.

I did not say only Americans could comment, nor do I think that. What I found odd and offputting, and still do, is that you chose to comment with information you gleaned from Google about a subject you do not have personal experience with and does not impact you, merely to criticize someone else's opinion and state your source is superior. If you had commented upon the subject on a humanitarian level I could understand your interest in the matter.

Homelessness of American vets does not impact Canadians directly. As humanitarians Canadians may well look at the issue and feel concern and compassion. I would imagine those who are aware of it would indeed be inclined to do so. The fact your grandfather is a vet and you have family in the U.S. may make you take an interest in the topic, but to me I would still expect that interest would result in a comment about the humanitarian situation, not prompt only a Google search merely to give stats. That is what my comment meant. I still find it an odd response to the circumstances. As I said, the comment wasn't made to offend, merely my thoughts about the fact I found it a strange approach to a humanitarian issue from someone who does not live here.

Seems a tad presumptuous, offputting, and odd that you had to call out someone for posting info and an opinion. Using those words in your posts do make it offensive, BTW.

 

[cabanafrau]

I really despise this type of response. Most people that post on any DIS thread are not going to offer assistance to any problem and are just giving their opinions, thoughts, etc yet you have a problem with a Canadian or someone not an American adding their voice to the issue. Closed minded yet typical.

You're more than welcome to despise my response. I would however appreciate it if you focused your disgust on the point I actually made, not one you've decided I made.

If it helps you to understand, think about the response I would receive if I entered into a discussion of a societal issue/humanitarian issue in a country not my own with a Google search result, announced others in the discussion might want to be careful of their sources and pronounced my Google search result superior. It would not matter how correct my numbers were, it's still a bit of a tone deaf response to the topic IMO. I would have actually appreciated hearing the thoughts and opinions of the poster on the issue on a humanitarian level, whether I disagreed or agreed with the thoughts expressed, rather than simply a Google search result and some links. After all, everyone reading can search out plenty of facts for themselves.

You are of course free to label me as you choose, because I'm sure you must know what I meant and my thought process much more than I do myself.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

You're more than welcome to despise my response. I would however appreciate it if you focused your disgust on the point I actually made, not one you've decided I made.

If it helps you to understand, think about the response I would receive if I entered into a discussion of a societal issue/humanitarian issue in a country not my own with a Google search result, announced others in the discussion might want to be careful of their sources and pronounced my Google search result superior. It would not matter how correct my numbers were, it's still a bit of a tone deaf response to the topic IMO. I would have actually appreciated hearing the thoughts and opinions of the poster on the issue on a humanitarian level, whether I disagreed or agreed with the thoughts expressed, rather than simply a Google search result and some links. After all, everyone reading can search out plenty of facts for themselves.

You are of course free to label me as you choose, because I'm sure you must know what I meant and my thought process much more than I do myself.

Feel free to backpedal and spin it any way you like. Your post was offensive and discriminating.

 

[Colleen27]

I think part of it is the population who chooses to enlist in the first place. I know that's not popular to say, but in an all-volunteer military many young people who enlist do so because they lack other options, and if someone is unprepared for life before they enlist it only makes sense that they'd struggle upon separation. Several of the young men I know who enlisted recently are barely literate, barely managed to squeak by to graduate from an alternative high school, and see military service though very rose-colored glasses - they think it is a way to gain marketable job skills without ever setting foot in a classroom, which we all know isn't the case for most. And to make matters worse, they're mostly young men without any family support to speak of so they won't have a soft landing when their service is over. Those people have always existed - my father dropped out and ran away from home to enlist as soon as he was of age - but in an all-volunteer force I think they're probably a larger percentage of the military population than they were in a time when the draft forced young men from all walks of life and all levels of ability to serve.

 

[DLgal]

I think part of it is the population who chooses to enlist in the first place. I know that's not popular to say, but in an all-volunteer military many young people who enlist do so because they lack other options, and if someone is unprepared for life before they enlist it only makes sense that they'd struggle upon separation. Several of the young men I know who enlisted recently are barely literate, barely managed to squeak by to graduate from an alternative high school, and see military service though very rose-colored glasses - they think it is a way to gain marketable job skills without ever setting foot in a classroom, which we all know isn't the case for most. And to make matters worse, they're mostly young men without any family support to speak of so they won't have a soft landing when their service is over. Those people have always existed - my father dropped out and ran away from home to enlist as soon as he was of age - but in an all-volunteer force I think they're probably a larger percentage of the military population than they were in a time when the draft forced young men from all walks of life and all levels of ability to serve.

This. 100%.

 

[ols386]

Feel free to backpedal and spin it any way you like. Your post was offensive and discriminating.

I didn't think her post was offensive or discriminating. It's all in how you interpret it.