ME (+/- 3%)
They're not all Vietnam-era vets. "Younger veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are trickling into shelters and soup kitchens seeking services, treatment or help with finding a job." Although "lack of affordable housing is the primary driver of homelessness" according to the report, this bit from the AP story is particularly troublesome:
Overall, 45 percent of participants in the VA's homeless programs have a diagnosable mental illness and more than three out of four have a substance abuse problem, while 35 percent have both, [according to Pete Dougherty, director of homeless veterans programs at the VA].
It's not the substance abuse that got my attention -- it's the mental illness statistic. [Substance abuse is often self-medication.]
Experts predict an increase in the number of homeless vets coming out of Iraq and Afghanistan. Therefore, it's imperative that any discussion of the costs of war acknowledge the issues around re-integrating vets into domestic culture and society and explicitly insure vet access to health services. Of course, historically we've ignored this sub-culture, as the AP article notes, but that doesn't mean we should sit by silently and let history again repeat itself.
Comments
I don’t want to diminish the significance of a finding that 1 of 4 homeless people are veterans, but there are some facts not in evidence in this report.
The report is written in such a way as to suggest a causal chain between veterans serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, mental health or dependency issues relating to that service, and homelessness.
This causal link is not borne out by the data.
Most of the homeless Vets have never seen combat. Veterans who have seen combat are not more likely to be homeless.
Just as was true of Vietnam Vets, a minority of OIF/OEF Vets have and will suffer PTSD or other mental health issues and problems from their service. This will need to all manner of problems, largely alcohol and substance abuse, but also homelessness for some.
Note the unsubstantiated claims that the numbers of homeless OIF/OEF Vets will “skyrocket.” There are agendas in play here.
More sophisticated observers, knowledgeable in statistical analysis, have already analyzed the findings. When other variables are taken into account, combat Vets actually are statistically underrepresented in these populations.
Just based on anecdotal evidence and personal experience, most of the Vets I see and deal with (including at the VA and Vet Centers) who have mental health or dependency issues, had at least some amount of those issues prior to their service.
I also know that the VA is currently “client shopping” in a big big way. I have heard a Vet Rep actually make the claim that OIF/OEF Vets should “maximize” seeking VA claims, as that will boost the numebr of VA clients and ensure that funding will remain robust, and Vets “who realy need the services” will always have them.
There might also be a weak correlation that would suggest people with these prior conditions may find the atmosphere in the military more attractive, or they are more likely to enlist than others. I don’t claim that, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the case.
Just some healthy skepicism on (likely agenda driven) reports like these.
Hello, Dadmanly – thank you for your thoughtful comments.
I did not suggest causality — I know that correlation and causality are two different birds. I quoted the news report that more recent vets are “trickling in” to shelters. I did not note the finding that the more recent vets having issues include a higher-than-average percentage of women.
Whatever the cause, the disparity (1-in-4 versus 1-in-10) says *something* . Maybe it’s that the services accept a sub-set of the population more prone to mental health disorder — or maybe it’s that life in the military triggers a latent tendency to mental health issues. Or something else.
I do know that historically America has turned her backs on vets returning from wars. The history books have stories from the Civil War — of tent cities outside the White House after WWI — and Vietnam is recent enough that I remember some of that post-war public support (or lack thereof) and I know Vietnam-era vets who struggle with depression and alcohol.
What is our commitment to the men and women who *voluntarily* serve the rest of us through their armed forces career? That’s the question that this study raises, IMO.
This is in no way particular to the USA. I suspect that we live in societies which are all to prone into sending fellow people (soldiers) go die for a cause. When these soldiers come back as vets, they are sending back to our citizens an image (as a deforming mirror) which they reject. They want to see glory, victory of their cause and pride, not broken men or women. The fact that they might have been more fragile prior to enrollment is, I believe, secondary. Our societies are too prosperous and quiet to accept the fact that decisions taken with the assent of the majority of the citizens have made the life of soldiers that are not seen as heroes anymore totally unbearable.
Veterans ,such as Saregent Binkley (US Army Capt retired), are not receieving the care they deserve. This West Point grad served his country and returned home to be misdiagnosed, mistreated and dumped by the VA. He now faces time in significant prison for two armed robberies committed to get painkillers. The Santa Clara DA wants 12 years. Capt Binkley is not looking for a pass just a reasonable sentence and rehab.
Thank you.