Homeless Veterans – The Numbers are Down but Still Too High
According to a new national report released a few weeks ago by the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development homelessness among Veterans decreased 12 percent between January 2010 and January 2011. And while these decreasing numbers are encouraging, the number of homeless veterans remains astounding – and to me – heartbreaking.
According to the 2011 supplement to the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) released in December of 2011, there were 67,495 Veterans homeless in the United States on a single night in January 2011 – down from a single night count of 76,329 in 2010.
Since 2009, VA and HUD have worked with over 4,000 community agencies to successfully house a total of 33,597 Veterans in permanent, supportive housing.The complete 2011 Annual Homeless Assessment Report will be available this year.
“This new report is good news for the tens of thousands of Veterans we have helped find a home. Our progress in the fight against homelessness has been significant, but our work is not complete until no Veteran has to sleep on the street,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.
Shinseki accredits this decrease in homeless veterans to leadership from the current administration and to the hard work by community organizations and federal, state, and local partners who are committed to helping Veterans and their families get on their feet and into a home.
“The problems that lead to homelessness begin long before Veterans and their families are on the streets,” said Shinseki. “By putting more resources into prevention services for those at risk of becoming homeless, we will continue to help more Veterans and their families turn their lives around.”
HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan added, “We’re absolutely headed in the right direction as we work to end homelessness amongst those who have served our nation.”
I certainly hope so. What do YOU think?
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