Ms. Watanabe
H. Primary American Democracy
10-19-14
Homeless Veterans Veterans young and old all at some point valiantly fought for the United States and its freedom. Yet, many do not receive the respect deserved upon returning to America. For one reason or another, a substantial amount of soldiers, marines, air force men, and many more return with severe injuries or mental illnesses, according to David Lefavor (a veteran himself) the author of, Without Contention-the Plight of Homeless Veterans. Lefavor also provides data from the 2013 Annual Homeless Assessment Report stating that twelve percent of the homeless adult population is veterans, and veterans are twice as likely to be homeless compared to average Americans. Why is this? Can you imagine being a war hero fighting brave for your country one day and then coming back to that country to not having anywhere to go? The question here is why and how is once war hero’s becoming homeless and passed by on the street? How can it be so difficult? Shouldn’t it be an easy and happy time for a soldier to return home…no not always? According to Lefavor of Without Contention-the Plight of Homeless Veterans and as of January 2013 about “eight hundred and forty four thousand veterans were unemployed and looking for work.” This countries lack of jobs is hard to navigate especially for …show more content…
On their website, www.newdirectionsclinic.org, Los Angeles is reported to have more than eight thousand veterans living on the street (that’s 11% of homeless veteran’s nation wide). Many of today’s veterans that have no home; abuse substances have mental illnesses, and or Post Dramatic Stress disorder. On their website New Directions for Veterans offers five different residential treatment centers located in the Los Angeles area for those homeless veterans that want