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This is frustrating and as one formerly homeless vet stated, "It's almost criminal in our country that this still happens."
BOTTOM LINE FOR AMERICA
According to BBC, "The current conflicts are already swelling this vagrant population - as more soldiers reach their point of discharge from the army. When the process of eventual withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan begins, it's likely to put further strain on an overburdened system. Almost half of these 'lost veterans' have drug abuse problems and over a third have serious psychiatric disorders. Many have been to prison."
The case of Phil Northcutt is just one of many personal interviews shared on the program, "In 2006, Phil Northcutt was sent to jail for growing marijuana. The only drug which stopped the recurring nightmares of his time in Iraq. He was imprisoned for 11 months. When the Marine Corps offered him an 'other than honorable' discharge, meaning the loss of benefits, he took it. Andrew Purcell spoke to many of those, like Phil, trying to get back on track. He finds out more about their struggles reintegrating into civilian society, and why they feel abandoned by the US military."
According to U.S.A TODAY, U.S. war veterans already make up 1 in 4 of the homeless adults in the U.S.A.-i.e. a land that spends a lot on war and new military technologies, but consistently fails to put away money for taking care of victims afterwardss
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-11-07-homeless-veterans_N.htm
HOPEFUL WEBSITES FOR VETERANS IN TROUBLE
Here are some websites for veterans, their families and friends:
NATIONAL COALITION OF HOMELESS VETERANS http://www.nchv.org/
HOMELESS VETERANS, RESOURCE GUIDE http://members.aol.com/veterans/warlib6z.htm
NEW ENGLAND VETERANS SHELTER http://www.neshv.org/
MIDWEST VETS HOMELESS SHELTER http://www.helpaveteran.org/
HUDVET STATE AND LOCAL RESOURCES, Colorado http://nhl.gov/offices/cpd/about/hudvet/state/co/index.cfm
MILITARY TRANSITION HOMELESS VETS http://www.careeronestop.org/MILITARYTRANSITION/homelessVets.aspx
HOMELESS VETS-BENEFITS http://www.military.com/benefits/veteran-benefits/homeless-veterans-programs
NATIONAL ALLIANCE TO END HOMELESSNESS, http://www.endhomelessness.org/content/article/detail/1837
