GUEST EDITORIAL: Veterans shouldn’t be homeless

Editorials

November 13, 2009

Anonymous The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Fri Nov 13, 2009, 12:51 AM EST

Everywhere there is a homeless population, it is likely some of the homeless are veterans.

The problem is getting well-deserved attention recently from the Department of Veterans Affairs. About 131,000 of the nation’s 24 million veterans may be homeless on any given night, and about twice as many are homeless each year, according to VA estimates. Some say that number could climb another 10 to 15 percent in the economic downturn.

The VA is pledging $3.2 billion toward its five-year goal of curbing the number of homeless vets. Part of the motivation is attributed to the fact that those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan become homeless much more quickly than other vets have.

As with most initiatives to fight a problem, focusing on prevention makes much sense. The new VA commitment adds $400 million to its efforts to prevent homelessness. The Washington Post reports that 85 percent of the funds will go toward health-care costs, an acknowledgment that homelessness is often secondary to health problems, especially mental health issues and substance abuse.

Another good thing about this push is that it doesn’t start from scratch. The department will expand partnerships with the Small Business Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other existing veterans programs at every level of government.

Vietnam Veterans of America applauded the government’s newly announced goal but cited a need to do more to diagnose and treat post-traumatic stress disorder; improve treatment for substance-abusing veterans, who comprise about a third of the homeless veterans population; eliminate a backlog in providing compensation to veterans too ill to work; and pay attention to the needs of female veterans.

As Veterans Day approaches on Wednesday, we’re reminded of all the sacrifices men and women in the service have made. The government’s renewed attention toward some of their issues is a step in the right direction.

— The Free Press, Mankato, Minn.

Text Only

Editorials

OUR VIEW: Time for Mongielo to face the music
Town of Lockport auto repair shop owner David Mongielo has gone over the line in his violation of a town sign ordinance.

January 2, 2012
OUR VIEW: At dawn of New Year, a call for civility
Each new year brings with it an inherent hopefulness in our own lives and the larger world around us, this one in particular — if only because it isn’t 2011.

January 2, 2012
Have a safe New Year's Eve
This isn’t the Prohibition era, and we’re not into moralizing about alcohol consumption.
We have no beef about adults having a few drinks on New Year’s Eve, as long as no one else gets hurt in the process. Your choice — hangover, no hangover. Check yes or no.
But, with one very important proviso: Don’t drink and drive.
And we’re very much against hosts of a New Year’s Eve party sending their guests out to their cars when their guests have overindulged. Especially when there are safe options to avoid behavior that risks your life and that of others you may encounter on the road.

December 31, 2011
The bus stops here
The NFTA’s proposed cuts to local bus routes have the potential to really hurt the little guy, the rider who relies on the bus to get to work, to shop, to get to the doctor’s.
It just shouldn’t happen.

December 28, 2011
OUR VIEW: Lockport taxpayers lose again
We find it highly inappropriate that the City of Lockport — via its development corporation — is again punishing taxpayers for renovations to 57 Canal St.

April 26, 2011
CHEERS & JEERS
We applaud Lockport Town Court and Judge Leonard G. Tilney Jr. for recusing themselves from the driving-while-intoxicated case against local attorney Daniel E. Seaman due to conflict of interest.

April 26, 2011
OUR VIEW: Recharge N.Y. is a plus for us
We’re encouraged that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s visit to Niagara County this week brings a new and improved version of the Power For Jobs program to our area.

April 21, 2011
CHEERS & JEERS: The US&J’s view on the best and worst of the week
April 21, 2011
OUR VIEW: Cleanup is up the creek
New York state had an Eighteenmile Creek cleanup within its grasp — and now it’s trying to change horses in mid-stream. And that could leave the cleanup effort up the creek without a paddle.

April 21, 2011
CHEERS & JEERS: The US&J’s view on the best and worst of the week
April 21, 2011
More Editorials Headlines

Editorials

Search Results

GUEST EDITORIAL: Veterans shouldn’t be homeless

Site Map

Contact Us