Profile of the Sheltered Homeless Individual Veterans (SHIV) (click here)
Veterans are overrepresented among the homeless population:
In 2010, Veterans account for 10 percent of the total adult population and 16 percent of
the homeless adult population. However, Veterans comprised 13 percent of sheltered
homeless adults in 2010 and 16 percent of homeless adults at a given point in time.
Secretary Shinseki has brought these studies forward to make a difference in the lives of these Veterans. They should never be ignored. For two consecutive years, 2009 and 2010, there are disproportionate populations of Veterans that are homeless and alone.
Secretary Shinseki has dedicated time and treasure to improving the lives of our Veterans, it is time for Congress to realize this is a sub-population of the homeless in the USA that is simply not acceptable. The Veterans in these dire circumstances receive food stamps, shelter and disability income from the USA federal government. It is time for Congress to show gratitude to these soldiers that stand the line of protecting our sovereignty. They are important people, they have always been important people and allowing homelessness is no way to express our gratitude.
We used to have a GI Bill of Rights that offered home ownership as a reward to their service, it is time that occurs again.
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
National Center for Veteran Analysis and Statistics (click here)
The homeless population of Veterans is not the only statistic we know about the people defending our nation.
