The Disgrace of Veteran Homelessness

1399 Words3 Pages

The military has been instrumental in the protection and development of U.S interests around the world. From the Revolutionary War, which established the United States as a nation, through the World Wars, which set up the U.S as one of the world super powers, to its current war on terror, the military has helped and protected U.S. interests around the world. During all these wars American soldiers have proudly served their country. Because of these wars America is famous throughout the world for military power and its protection of freedom in the world. Today the U.S is an international symbol of wealth and power; it has the largest Gross Domestic Product in the world as well as the strongest military. Yet even America falls prey to a social ill that plagues every society, that of the homelessness of its citizens. Shamefully of those homeless 23% are reported to be veterans, although the actual numbers may be much larger (Coalition for the Homeless). These soldiers gave of themselves for their country and now annually more than 500,000 of them experience homelessness (National Coalition for the Homeless). It is a disgraceful fact that in the greatest country in the world, the men and women who once represented America in its many wars for freedom, and built up America’s international might, are now unfortunately sleeping under bridges and looking for a place to sleep at night. One would only have to visit a homeless center in one of America’s “Great” cities, and veterans from almost every major American conflict can be found. This is not a new problem in America. Homelessness among American veterans has been around since colonial times. The ravages of war, put together with military life, results in the creation of key factors, th...

... middle of paper ...

..."Soldiers Fail to Seek PTSD Treatment or Drop out of Therapy Early, Research Finds." Stripes. Stars and Stripes, 15 May 2012. Web. 17 Jan. 2014.
Saxon, Andrew J., MD. "Returning Veterans With Addictions." Psychiatric Times. UBM Medica, 14 July 2011. Web. 18 Jan. 2014.
Tull, Matthew, PhD. "Coming Home from the Iraq War." About.com Post Traumatic Stress (PTSD). About.com, 17 July 2009. Web. 18 Jan. 2014.
Vlahos, Kelley Beaucar. "Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injuries Are Being Neglected." Veterans. Ed. Margaret Haerens. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2011. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Hidden Wounds." American Conservative (2 June 2007). Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 7 Jan. 2014.
Wolfe, Matthew. "From PTSD to Prison: Why Veterans Become Criminals." The Daily Beast. The Newsweek Daily Beast Company, 28 July 2013. Web. 11 Jan. 2014.

Show More
Related

  • Pathos In The Homeless

    1809 Words  | 4 Pages

    Murray, and Deborah are among some 50,000 veterans who are homeless, or 1.4 million who are considered at risk of homelessness on any given day, due to poverty, lack of support networks, and marginal living conditions in substandard housing, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. They, and all those who put on the uniforms of our nation 's armed services, sacrifice so much to defend the freedoms that we all enjoy and take for granted. Far too many, however, come home unable to defend themselves from the ravages of combat.” (Cole, 2015, Para. 23). Cole also goes on to continue stating “Providing shelter to our female and male veterans is not enough; it is simply one step. The transition from soldier to civilian is often the most difficult part of a veteran 's life. Yet the hardships of going from combat to job application, mortgage payments and working a typical 9-to-5 job, far too often are after-thoughts on the post-military agenda. It is no wonder that long after their active tours, many veterans continue to fight to reclaim their health and well-being.(Cole, 2015, Para.

    Read More

  • The Red Convertible by Louise Erdrich

    1064 Words  | 3 Pages

    Boone, Katherine. "The Paradox of PTSD." Wilson Quarterly. 35.4 (2011): 18-22. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.

    Read More

  • Veterans Deserve a Second Chance Back Home in the USA

    1481 Words  | 3 Pages

    America is the land of opportunity and the land of second chances. People come to America to live a better life, but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. When Veterans come back home, all they want is a second chance at life again. They want to come back and be able to start from where they left off. But the government has done very little to help these veterans. The government believes they have done enough with the programs they have created, but it hasn’t had much of a change. The purpose of this essay is to discuss my opinion and what I know about this issue, to benefit The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, who are my intended audience. If the government were to put a lot of effort, like they do for pointless issues, there wouldn’t be many struggling veterans. If the government does more to improve every aspect of the reintegration process of veterans, so many benefits would come out of this action. There are a couple of reasons for why we should work toward improving veterans lives. First, there would possibly be a decrease in the veteran suicide levels and a decrease in the substance abuse aspect. Second, less veterans and families will have to worry about living and struggling with mental illnesses. Third, by improving the economical aspect for these veterans, more will find jobs and less will end up on the street homeless. And lastly, the reintegration process won’t be as hard for these veterans, and they will be able to resume a normal life. This essay is not meant to offend in any way, its purpose is to provide a new perspective over this issue, to cause a change for the better.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Speech On Homeless Veterans

    313 Words  | 1 Pages

    Today we will be talking about homeless veterans and what I believe should happen to them. First I believe that all veterans deserve a home, food, running water and some money. I believe that the department of veterans affairs should get on this because according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

    Read More

  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Barbara Van Dahlen

    1255 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ever since the United States had gained its independence from Britain in 1776, we have prided ourselves upon the courageous military personnel that have devoted their lives to guaranteeing freedom and protection to citizens of this country. However, what happens when our sole protectors and guardians experience severe mental anguish and are the ones that need help to simply go about their daily lives? Little by little there has been one woman who has provided that comfort and assistance to the military men and women, and who has realized the severity of the effects that combat has on the mental states of these men and women and their loved ones. Barbara Van Dahlen has become a prominent and notable leader through her consistent effort of aiding those who fought or are fighting in wars and supporting the families and communities impacted by the military troops.

    Read More

  • Housing For Veterans

    2075 Words  | 5 Pages

    We are now ten years into the Afghanistan War and eight years into the Iraq War. Since at least 15 percent of the nearly 1 million vets from both wars met the screening criteria for PTSD, as a nation we must prepare for a surge in their homelessness numbers. (1) Therefore, to show my gratitude for those veterans who signed that blank check, I would use the $150,000 just acquired to purchase a distressed property and address the problem of homelessness among our military veterans.

    Read More

  • Substance abuse in veterans

    966 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Ultimately, diagnosis of a substance use disorder or PTSD relies on clinical assessment using DSM criteria. Screening instruments exist that can help uncover or point the way toward a potential diagnosis. For alcohol use disorders, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the AUDIT-Consumption (AUDIT-C) have been widely validated as self-report screening measures. A single-item screening measure was recently validated for drug use disorders consisting of the single question, “How many times in the past year have you used an illegal drug or used a prescription medication for nonmedical reasons?” A response of 1 time or more yields a positive screen.” -Returning Veterans With Addictions. (2011, July 11). Psychiatric Times. Retrieved Februa...

    Read More

  • The Homeless in America

    779 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Homeless in America I never imagined that I would be homeless. " Although I have read this statement over and over again, the facts behind it remain astonishing. The facts are that there are millions of homeless people in America today. Many of these people had no choice but to become homeless. Economic problems such as being laid off work, or the rise in the cost of housing, have led people to live on the streets.

    Read More

  • Solutions To Homelessness

    1837 Words  | 4 Pages

    This great nation of awesome power and abundant resources is losing the battle against homelessness. The casualties can be seen on the street corners of every city in American holding an ?I will work for food? sign. Homeless shelters and rescue missions are at full capacity. There is no room at the inn for the nation?s indigent. Anyone who has studied this issue understands that homelessness is a complex problem. Communities continue to struggle with this socio-economic problem while attempting to understand its causes and implement solutions. The public and private sectors of this country are making a difference in the lives of the homeless by addressing the issues of housing, poverty and education.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Homeless Veterans

    1108 Words  | 3 Pages

    Growing up I always had to deal with the fact that my father was involved in the military. My father was deployed twice: once in Germany, and later to Kuwait. I was only four years old when he first traveled and almost every day I asked where dad was. The second time I was fourteen, and I was devastated that my best friend wasn’t going to be home for a year. Both times he left, it was awful for my mom, my brother, and me because he was the one person that kept us together as a family and once he was gone we were just broken. A military family goes through more than a regular family does in a year. Those veterans have families, how do people think they feel. Children who live in a military family have a higher risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental issues. Although many people believe that we should send our soldiers overseas to keep our country safe, there is no reason why our

    Read More

  • Essay On Homeless Veterans

    831 Words  | 2 Pages

    We see these people everyday; we thank them for their service. There is several holidays to honor them. Some are our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, or even someone that we hold dear to our hearts. They are our veterans of many wars and conflicts that America has been in. We salute them, give them parades, and special parking at different establishments. However, what about those who return from war with nothing? No home, family, and money for whatever reasons. They are homeless veterans.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Homeless Veterans

    1501 Words  | 4 Pages

    Envision a man that sat on a grimy concrete block, as nightfall began to crystallize before his eyes. His hair, charcoal-grey, was matted and straggly, as if he had ever known the pleasure of a hot shower or comb except when he was in the war. His once shimmering brown eyes were know hollow and cold. His eyes, that were once filled with the upmost blissfulness, now sagged like the bulky bags underneath his eyes, consumed by the loneliness and despair he felt for himself, for his lack of purpose in life. This man did not bare a smile, only crinkles where one used to be. He wore his only faded blue jacket with a tan shirt tucked underneath it. He wore cruddy worn out jeans that barely seized his thin waist and boney legs. His only pair of shoes that were once white, we're now grungy. His finger nails were bitten and dirty. This man, like many other homeless veterans, struggle everyday of their lives.

    Read More

  • reserach

    780 Words  | 2 Pages

    Even though millions of individuals in the United States suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), this illness in veterans that served in Vietnam War, Iraq and Afghanistan does not receive a lot of recognition for their service and the traumatic event they experience. This is unfortunate when provided with the information researched that the effects of PTSD for veterans in Iraq and health issues are more than any other military population. Younger military population is viewed by many as ‘puzzling’ and they do not fit with the list of so called ‘minority groups’ (Savitsky et al., 2009). This article spoke about millions of veterans with PTSD following the 9/11, who is depressed and victims of traumatic events are not getting the help they really need. A process of prevention is to educate doctors, nurses, and other people in the medical profession and society in general that PTSD in veterans from Iraq and other war zones is able to be avoided. Another option of intervention or prevention is to get involved with some outpatient mental-health services. These services will help veterans and their families with strategies in teaching practical approaches to cope with PTSD. It will also contribute support on a national, state, and local level in a more consistent manner. This will help men, women, children, and veterans with PTSD, techniques in real-life situations (Savitsky et al., 2009).

    Read More

  • Youth and Substance Abuse

    1740 Words  | 4 Pages

    Liehr, P, Marcus, M, Carroll, D, Granmayeh, K L, Cron, S, Pennebaker, J ;( Apr-Jun 2010). Substance Abuse; Vol. 31 (2); 79-85. Doi: 10.1080/08897071003641271

    Read More

  • Soldiers and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

    924 Words  | 2 Pages

    "PTSD: National Center for PTSD Home." National Center for PTSD. VA Health Care, 1 Jan.

    Read More

More about The Disgrace of Veteran Homelessness

Open Document