Help The Homeless Veterans
By Rachel Reyes
They fought for our country
According to Green Doors, “The vast majority of homeless veterans (96%) are single males from poor, disadvantaged communities. Homeless veterans have served in World War II, Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the military's anti-drug cultivation efforts in South America.” They are now suffering from mental illnesses like PTSD. Two-thirds suffer from substance abuse problems and many from dual diagnosis (which is defined as a person struggling with both mental illness and a substance abuse problem).”
Now they are fighting to live in it
SUICIDE is NOT their ONLY answer
An estimated 22 veterans committed suicide in America each day in 2010. That rate has edged higher from 1999 when an estimated 20 veterans took their lives every day. In 2007, the veteran suicide pace temporarily dipped to 18 per day. Nearly 70 percent of all veteran suicides were among men and women aged 50 or older, the VA said.
Works Cited
Information (Top to bottom)
- "Veteran Homelessness Facts." Homes through Community Partnership in Austin, Texas. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2014.
- "U.S. News." NBC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.
Pictures (Left to Right)
- "Charts: Suicide, PTSD and the Psychological Toll on America's Vets." Mother Jones. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2014.
- "Veteran's Day." But Not Yet. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.
- "Tackling Veteran Homelessness." Tackling Veteran Homelessness. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.