tax payers are footing the bill for the illegals in hotels but Vets are living on the streets

Seriously, people in the States are asleep or just too doped up to care about the American way these days. Can't believe I just found that out a few minutest ago.
What the hell is going on in America?

a reply to: musicismagic

There is a lot of help available like shelters and other programs but it's hard to get mentality ill people to seek help.

Throw in the drug addiction, much related to the mental health part, and you get people living on the streets.

Have any solutions?

originally posted by: musicismagic
Seriously, people in the States are asleep or just too doped up to care about the American way these days. Can't believe I just found that out a few minutest ago.
What the hell is going on in America?

I don't know why you just found out about this. It has been going on for years, and it is not only the illegals that are draining money away from the care of veterans.

I fought for over twenty years at a job trying to fix this problem in our area. It is not just Vets either. There are numerous American citizens that are being ignored or overlooked. People who have lived, worked, and contributed to their communities, to be left out to dry, with little to no government assistance.

I had to leave my job because I just couldn't do it anymore. I was feeding so much of myself into the job that there wasn't anything left to give but my bones.

You probably didn't know because you were not affected, or it didn't come across your field of vision. What is going on in America has been going on for so long, that too many people think that just is the way it is. Especially the ones with the most need. They don't believe there is another way, and they don't believe there is hope. Sometimes I agree with them, because it does look like we only care about those things we are told we should care about, and we do very little to resolve those issues, because we still have that idea that the government is going to save us.

Maybe they will, but when? Not in lifetime.

originally posted by: Bluntone22
a reply to: musicismagic

There is a lot of help available like shelters and other programs but it's hard to get mentality ill people to seek help.

Throw in the drug addiction, much related to the mental health part, and you get people living on the streets.

Have any solutions?

Sadly to say, but one day in the future the problem has got to be solved and that will lead to forced encampments. I really see that coming in the future.

a reply to: musicismagic

we have a massive mental health issue in the US. we have ZERO ways to treat folks in a meaningful way, so the way forward seems to be, ignore it, and hope it goes away.

But it won't go away. The folks that are homeless, quite a few of them have mental issues that prevent them from functioning in society. They turn to Drugs to cope, and end up, homeless and #ed up. They aren't the kind of people you can give a shower and $50 bucks to and expect their problems to go away.

We screwed the pooch on mental health, and until that is recognized, and UNDERSTOOD, this issue won't go away. This problem isn't a political one, it's a humanitarian one. It's not easy, it's super hard to get a grasp of, which is why it's ignored.
Maybe one day, some folks will grow a tiny pair, take the risk of making a few mistakes, but still try to find a workable solution. Just not today.

a reply to: network dude

It's a perfect storm in many cases.
These men get back from service in nasty places with some mental issues. The wife files for divorce and takes his kids away. Drug problems soon follow.

My lawyer tells me that a man's military service is used against him in court more often than not.

originally posted by: musicismagic
Seriously, people in the States are asleep or just too doped up to care about the American way these days. Can't believe I just found that out a few minutest ago.
What the hell is going on in America?

Right...because illegals are more important to this administration than vets.
Is this really surprising...knowing who is in charge?

originally posted by: Bluntone22
a reply to: network dude

It's a perfect storm in many cases.
These men get back from service in nasty places with some mental issues. The wife files for divorce and takes his kids away. Drug problems soon follow.

My lawyer tells me that a man's military service is used against him in court more often than not.

Yes, and if you and I can see this so clearly, it begs the question, why is it not seen by those in power?

originally posted by: IAMTAT

originally posted by: musicismagic
Seriously, people in the States are asleep or just too doped up to care about the American way these days. Can't believe I just found that out a few minutest ago.
What the hell is going on in America?

Right...because illegals are more important to this administration than vets.
Is this really surprising...knowing who is in charge?

In all fairness, this isn't new, this issue has been ongoing for quite some time, through different administrations.
This isn't a partisan issue, it's a humanitarian issue.

a reply to: musicismagic

My local VA Hospital has put up housing for homeless vets on the hospital campus. I think the problem is that some vets would rather be homeless than deal with the VA.


Eagle Landing- A Veteran Housing Communtity

a reply to: musicismagic

They also have this program.

How It Works
Through public housing authorities, HUD provides rental assistance vouchers for privately owned housing to Veterans who are eligible for VA health care services and are experiencing homelessness. VA case managers may connect these Veterans with support services such as health care, mental health treatment and substance use counseling to help them in their recovery process and with their ability to maintain housing in the community. Among VA homeless continuum of care programs, HUD-VASH enrolls the largest number and largest percentage of Veterans who have experienced long-term or repeated homelessness. As of Sept. 30, 2015, HUD had allocated more than 78,000 vouchers to help house Veterans across the country.

Homeless Veterans- VA Roseburg

originally posted by: Bluntone22
a reply to: musicismagic

There is a lot of help available like shelters and other programs but it's hard to get mentality ill people to seek help.

Throw in the drug addiction, much related to the mental health part, and you get people living on the streets.

Have any solutions?

Yes....take all the money being used to house and process illegals and fund some programs for our Vets ...at least try ?

originally posted by: network dude

originally posted by: Bluntone22
a reply to: network dude

It's a perfect storm in many cases.
These men get back from service in nasty places with some mental issues. The wife files for divorce and takes his kids away. Drug problems soon follow.

My lawyer tells me that a man's military service is used against him in court more often than not.

Yes, and if you and I can see this so clearly, it begs the question, why is it not seen by those in power?

Because homeless vets have no voice , no power to rattle the cages in D.C.....and it seems those in power only use their office to help themselves and their buddies.

a reply to: conspiracytheoristIAM

See my 2 links above. The VA already has programs for homeless vets. Vets eligible for VA services can get a HUD housing voucher from the VA. Some VA Hospitals, like mine, also have housing for homeless vets on campus. The problem is that some vets don't want to deal with the VA. Also, a vet that received a dishonorable discharge is ineligible for VA benefits or services.

originally posted by: network dude

originally posted by: Bluntone22
a reply to: network dude

It's a perfect storm in many cases.
These men get back from service in nasty places with some mental issues. The wife files for divorce and takes his kids away. Drug problems soon follow.

My lawyer tells me that a man's military service is used against him in court more often than not.

Yes, and if you and I can see this so clearly, it begs the question, why is it not seen by those in power?

Because they see the average service person as expendable. Literally.

They know full well, and have for 100 years that the way the military in the west trains and deploys military men has the potential to deeply traumatize and make a portion of them anti-social. And it all spirals down from there.

They get the blame for "not getting help", the spouses get the blame for leaving; but in reality, it all starts and ends with the military's lack of preventative and post deployment mental health care.

Not to mention, the military finanvially incentivizes incredibly young and absent people to start families that they might never bond and grow with. A big recipe for disaster. We see it with a percentage of welfare and child benefit recipients, and there's no difference in the military pay bump when a member gets married and has children.

originally posted by: network dude

originally posted by: IAMTAT

originally posted by: musicismagic
Seriously, people in the States are asleep or just too doped up to care about the American way these days. Can't believe I just found that out a few minutest ago.
What the hell is going on in America?

Right...because illegals are more important to this administration than vets.
Is this really surprising...knowing who is in charge?

In all fairness, this isn't new, this issue has been ongoing for quite some time, through different administrations.
This isn't a partisan issue, it's a humanitarian issue.

As with most really huge humanitarian issues, any real attempt to fix the problem becomes corrupted and ineffectual.

The only real solution lies within our communities. Where the ones that need help live. Where they are known, and understood. It is a problem that is ugly, and no one wants it in their front yard, and it is so much easier to place the responsibility in someone else's lap.

As a case manager the one thing I never could wrap my head around, was those family members that got angry with a system that did not have the ability to house, feed, clothe, and medicate their loved one, yet they always had an excuse why they could not house, feed, clothe, or pay for the medications for their loved ones. Often times there would be two or more siblings, but not one, was willing to help their parents.

My family is extremely blessed. We were raised in a home is the country, where you were taught that it was expected that you take care of your neighbor, as you can. I remember the special offering on Sundays, where they collected for the community needs. Some child needed shoes, or a family needed repairs on their furnace. We collected for those that were members of other churches, or did not attend church at all, but lived in our community. The church scheduled for care of the elderly and the sick, when there was a need, or no family member was available.

It is not easy, and I am not trying to sound like a saint. We have problems in my family also, and it is very hard sometimes. There are enough of us to share the expense of caring for our mother. All of us are self sufficient, but we are not all in the same position financially, we all know that, so we never expect everyone to give the same amount. Each gives what they can afford, but in the end, Mother gets what she needs, and most of what she wants.

I have a sister that got in trouble for feeding the poor hot meals in her neighborhood, so they had to start a carryout pantry associated with a local church, to stay out of legal trouble. My mother and I serve three days a week at our local church. One of my brothers works with a global charity foundation, and he helps with assisting needy young people with education tutoring and educational assistance.

It is about doing something. You can't solve all the world's problems, you can't help everyone. You can help those that you can help. I think it may help if people stop looking at the problem as a national problem, and just start from where you are. It doesn't even have to be a huge step. One of my brothers was a Marine. He had a bad time after getting out of the military, and he said he could remember raiding the MacDonald's dumpster, and going into diners asking for a cup of tea and making ketchup soup.

When he got back on his feet, and owned his own company, he went out of his way to reach out to the poor Vets on the street. He would buy them meals and sit and eat with them. No cheap meals either. Meals from nice restaurants, with all the accouterments, and desserts. He met them where they where and tried to help them as he could and as they needed. He met them as his equal, his friend, because he had been where they where.

One of the visions that will never be erased from my mind, was at his funeral, when all these people, none of us knew, came to his funeral and filled the parking lot. The number of homeless people that came up and spoke about who he was. It brings tears to my eyes just typing this.

We all can do something. You may never live to see the outcomes of your generosity, or caring, but it will live on. Someone will be helped, at least in the moment, and if that is all you can do, then you did what you could.

The warrior class is always alone.

Republicans, democrats, libertarians, socialists, communists. Not one has ever shown the appreciation of the sacrifices of those we ask to go to war for us. Not with platitudes,we hear that # all the time, we asked for action.

We'll never get it because we aren't politically convenient. When the time comes, those of us who served will be first in line for the purges and gulags.

No one appreciates their warriors until they need them. We haven't been needed. Used? Certainly. But needed? Not for quite some time and it shows.

originally posted by: tamusan
a reply to: conspiracytheoristIAM

See my 2 links above. The VA already has programs for homeless vets. Vets eligible for VA services can get a HUD housing voucher from the VA. Some VA Hospitals, like mine, also have housing for homeless vets on campus. The problem is that some vets don't want to deal with the VA. Also, a vet that received a dishonorable discharge is ineligible for VA benefits or services.

Thanks for the info....I'm a vet and understand there are programs available....there could be more if the govt. used funds used for illegals was transferred to our Vets' programs.....

a reply to: conspiracytheoristIAM

I also don't think that we should be using taxpayer money for housing illegals. But there are plenty of resources for vets who want to deal with the VA. Also, how many of those homeless with their "homeless vet" signs are really veterans?

originally posted by: IAMTAT

originally posted by: musicismagic
Seriously, people in the States are asleep or just too doped up to care about the American way these days. Can't believe I just found that out a few minutest ago.
What the hell is going on in America?

Right...because illegals are more important to this administration than vets.
Is this really surprising...knowing who is in charge?

Giving humanitarian shelter to refugees of a third world country will always be a better look than acknowledging the many, many humans who were broken and discarded like cheap toys by our military industrial complex.