Other views: Veterans shouldn't be homeless

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November 22, 2009

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Sun Nov 22, 2009, 07:21 PM CST

Everywhere there is a homeless population, it is likely some of the homeless are veterans.

The problem is getting well-deserved attention recently from the Department of Veterans Affairs. About 131,000 of the nation’s 24 million veterans may be homeless on any given night, and about twice as many are homeless each year, according to VA estimates. Some say that number could climb another 10 to 15 percent in the economic downturn.

The VA is pledging $3.2 billion toward its five-year goal of curbing the number of homeless vets. Part of the motivation is attributed to the fact that those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan become homeless much more quickly than other vets have.

As with most initiatives to fight a problem, focusing on prevention makes much sense. The new VA commitment adds $400 million to its efforts to prevent homelessness. The Washington Post reports that 85 percent of the funds will go toward health care costs, an acknowledgment that homelessness is often secondary to health problems, especially mental health issues and substance abuse.

Another good thing about this push is that it doesn’t start from scratch. The department will expand partnerships with the Small Business Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other existing veterans programs at every level of government.

Vietnam Veterans of America applauded the government’s newly announced goal but cited a need to do more to diagnose and treat post-traumatic stress disorder; improve treatment for substance-abusing veterans, who comprise about a third of the homeless veterans population; eliminate a backlog in providing compensation to veterans too ill to work; and pay attention to the needs of female veterans.

The government’s renewed attention toward some of their issues is a step in the right direction.

— The Free Press, Mankato, Minn.

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Other views: Veterans shouldn't be homeless

Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr wants the city to distribute weather radios to all Joplin homes that don’t have one. That’s 11,000 radios. Do you think that’s a good use of $300,440?

Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr wants the city to distribute weather radios to all Joplin homes that don’t have one. That’s 11,000 radios. Do you think that’s a good use of $300,440?

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