Why is the Government allowing our Vets to become Homeless?

1. 61

   Leaderofmanyposted 12 years ago

   The time between when the Soldier leaves the service with one disability rating from 0% to 100% from the service to receive the VA rating from 0% to 100% takes a year or longer. In the mean time depending on the rating the Soldier losses up to a third or more of their pay. That means they are in danger of losing everything. If the VA does not find them disabled they are left without anything and still disabled.

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2. 70

   Cagsilposted 12 years ago

   How Government handles Veterans should demonstrate exactly what Government thinks about people who serve the country.
   
   Unfortunately, many learn this the hard way.

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3. 86

   Pamela Kinnaird Wposted 11 years ago

   Isn't it a sad state of affairs when only one or two people reply with a comment on this? Leaderofmany, maybe, hopefully, there would have been more comments by concerned citizens if you had embedded a question in it -- I don't know. I've seen so many homeless vets.  I don't have any solutions -- as I've mentioned in hubs -- but I know the people have to be more concerned before the politicians will be. Thanks for the nudge in thoughts today.

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      Leaderofmanyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Homeless vet population is growing, and obviously it is not a concern here or else where. If America would stand united like they do on other issues this could be a great service for our Vets. They are the one's who kept the country safe for all these years. 2 evil men were taken down because of these vets. My husband was one of them that brought the city to its knees. Where is our America pride?

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4. 76

   lovemychrisposted 11 years ago

   5 year plane begun in 2009:
   
   http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1807
   
   Here is Shinseki:
   
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4lWoznAoUo

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      Leaderofmanyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      There are more getting out every day and also returning for Afghanistan everyday with mental illness and other physical disabilities. Our Wounded Warrior Facilities cannot even take them in. To receive VA benefits it takes over a year, in the meantime where do these vets go. Many do not have a high enough income to support themselves and family.  No insurance to buy medication. That is if they are rated low by the Army.  I know I'm going through it right now. My husband's pay was cut 1/3 of normal pay. It does not even pay my house payment.

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         lovemychrisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Why was his pay cut?

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         1. 61

            Leaderofmanyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            The Army rated (which is different from VA rating which we have to wait over a year for) at 50% disabled. Which only gives us 1/3 of his pay. If the Army finds Soldiers with no disability or a less percent they loss all pay and benefits until the VA rates them. That is how more and more are becoming homeless before VA ratings, then afterwards is mainly due to mental illness.

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         PrettyPantherposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I'm a little confused by this, as my step-son-in-law, who is not yet designated as "disabled" by the VA was able to get medications fully paid, an apartment, and a job.  He had the meds within a few days of his first appointment. It took longer for the apartment and job, but in the meantime he was housed in a shelter.  He has undergone two surgeries, had his teeth fixed, and is receiving therapy for Hepatitis C as well as PTSD, and it has been less than a year since he first contacted the VA for help.

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         1. 61

            Leaderofmanyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I'm just stating what is happening around where we live and to the Soldiers that I know that are in the VA system. Your step- son- law was counted as homeless due to be in a shelter.

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5. 85

   gmwilliamsposted 11 years ago

   Of course, the government does not care.   Our precious servicepeople only exist as expenditious fodder for the government.  The government's motto is use our military people as long as they are expendable and when they are no longer expendable, they are rudely tossed aside and forgotten.  How egregious indeed!

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   lovemychrisposted 11 years ago

   I think Shinseki is trying. And so is Obama, his wife and Jill Biden.
   
   http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-R … ccess.aspx
   
   http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/bene … chap04.asp
   
   http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/ … -veterens/
   
   Congress has to approve.

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   1. 61

      Leaderofmanyposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I have 2 problems with this the GI bill stated # 2 for E-5. With dependents would receive benefits.
      Second my husband has put out more than 50 resumes, but there is a Federal and State hiring freeze right now and civilian companies are not hiring no matter who u are.

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      1. 76

         lovemychrisposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Well, I would say the hiring feeze is the probem. And this is affecting everybody, not just veterans. But Obama has tried to give them a kick in the pants, by offering tax credits to hire vets...he can't do everything--it takes the other side to be willing too!
         
         There is plenty of work to be done in America.....for America....and by Americans.
         
         but at my place of business...we are awaiting our foreign student workers. Go figure.

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7. 80

   dmopposted 11 years ago

   It is a sad state of affairs when our Vets are overlooked by the establishment they gave so much to protect. Especially while politicians enjoy the best retirement benefits along with all the other perks of holding or having held a political position. It is very sad indeed.

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   1. 85

      gmwilliamsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      ++++++++.

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8. 63

   prettydarkhorseposted 11 years ago

   I don't know what is really happening about the  cases of these homeless veterans but I have to agree with the last two commenters above this response!

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9. 86

   Express10posted 11 years ago

   I live in a military area and see a variety of reasons. A few people in the military are being laid off others are encountering hiring freezes and still others are coming back to find that they cannot afford the costs of life whether they are in or out of the military. Some military personnel have health problems that get in the way of them earning money. Still others are encountering problems with payments earned through the GI Bill.
   
   I wrote a hub about homeless people and how some veterans using the GI Bill have been waiting for months for their stipends and becoming homeless in the process. Despite the fact that their stipends are something that they earned with their service, the delays in paying the stipends is pretty much an annual thing that the gov't refuses to fix. One of this year's excuses was that they could not hire enough people to process the paperwork due to the high numbers of troops coming home. I find that a challenge to believe that it cannot be done, especially when payments are MORE than 90 days late to our troops and some are getting evicted and foreclosed on because of this.
   
   
   
   Photo Source: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stephanie Tigner via Wikimedia Commons

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10. 77

    brimancandyposted 11 years ago

    You can thank the Bush Administration, and several sate governors for what is happening to our veterans. My brother Dennis was in the Air Force, and a couple weeks ago, he died after a long battle with brain cancer, which they hinted might be related to his military service. Yet, their record keeping is so bad, that today, I received a call from the VA clinic in Grand Rapids, Michigan wanting to schedule him a follow up visit!!! Wait, let me write down that appointment time so you can examine his ashes.
    
    The VA didn't seem to care that someone like my brother had to drive 5 hours to the only VA hospital in Michigan, for a 2 minute consultation, only to be sent 5 hours back home. Why? because Bush and that group of governors decided it would save the country money, by closing down many VA hospitals, and centralizing them. I have a better Idea, Mr. Lame Ass President, stop sending our soldiers to start your pointless wars.
    
    I personally think the oil companies, who are greatly benefitting from the wars in Iraq and Afganistan, should have to pay a percentage of our veterans Medical bills, and some money should also come out of Mr. Bush's paycheck, and any other member of congress who agreed to send these guys to war. Nobody is cutting their salary. If I were in charge I would sock them good!!
    
    Now one of the things on the republican agenda, is to privatize the VA, and take money out of the soldiers salaries to pay insurance companies to pay for their healthcare. But, they have not said what kind of restrictions they are going to put on those insurance companies for denying claims. In other words they could come up with any reason not to pay for a soldiers care, just as they do for someone who smokes cigarettes...war is dangerous to your health, so we are going to charge you out the rear for care, and then pay for none.
    
    This is one of the only reasons I am against Obama's health care plan. It's a great idea, but puts the real work in the hands of people who want the money, but don't want to offer the service. I had an expensive healthcare plan through my employer, and when I was injured, I had to fight them at every turn just to get them to pay for average care. Imagine what wounded veterans would have to deal with. They treat our Veterans like crap. Actually, they treat everyone like crap, while the very rich get whatever they want.

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11. 61

    eaglecreekposted 11 years ago

    Our government is controlled by big business and they only care about making more money.

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