Posted on Jun 4, 2018
Why is it that we’ve got so many veterans in homeless shelters?
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I went to the local homeless shelter for veterans. In our local shelter there are 1000’s our brothers and sisters without homes. I asked how many homeless vets we have Statewide and they said it was 10’s of thousands. We have so many foreclosures and some of these veterans are able to be productive. Why can we get some way of getting these veterans into some of these homes. Now, I don’t want to have anyone saying anything about “free lunch” so can anyone help me understand why this is going on? Some of these people are younger than me! Something has got to be done. I’m going to make a GoFundMe page so that we can start getting our brothers and sisters out of these shelters. Can someone help me get something going here and work with me on this campaign?
Posted in these groups: 
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Homeless
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
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PFC James (LURCH) Janota when I discharged from the Navy and fell on hard times due to a house fire, losing everything, I became homeless with my 4 year old son, 25 years ago. When I sought out help, I stated that I had served my country honorably and was a decorated veteran. I was told, well ma'am get in line.
I worked with veterans for 13 years as a volunteer for Disabled American Veterans advance DAV Service Officer. When homelessness and veterans was a popular issue, there were resources everywhere. The issue is not popular anymore and the population of the homeless has grown exponentially. I don't know what is answer is anymore because of all the years I was a DAV Service Officer I saw more temporary sheltering than permanent because the funds had to be used all over to capture single veterans and veterans with families. Do you think a go-fund-me page will get much done without a systemic plan? If I were you I would seek out wisdom and collaboration from seasoned people who have been around the block. FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs,PO2 Marc Burgess,LTC Stephen F.
I worked with veterans for 13 years as a volunteer for Disabled American Veterans advance DAV Service Officer. When homelessness and veterans was a popular issue, there were resources everywhere. The issue is not popular anymore and the population of the homeless has grown exponentially. I don't know what is answer is anymore because of all the years I was a DAV Service Officer I saw more temporary sheltering than permanent because the funds had to be used all over to capture single veterans and veterans with families. Do you think a go-fund-me page will get much done without a systemic plan? If I were you I would seek out wisdom and collaboration from seasoned people who have been around the block. FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs,PO2 Marc Burgess,LTC Stephen F.
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OK, let me be the resident cynic on this one. One. Most of estimates of homeless veterans are self identified, which in this community isn't exactly a reliable. That guy on the corner with the homeless vet sign most likely didn't get closer to Vietnam than a rerun of Platoon. Two, homeless shelters are just a symptom of the failure of the mental health system in the US. If you have worked at one, you know at least 40 percent of those using the facilities are simply incapable of functioning in normal society because of various metal illnesses, usually combined with heavy self medication, and many should be institutionalized for their own safety, but now we "protect" their rights by leaving them on the street until they do something to get put in prison. Yes, we have exchanged institutional care for prisons. The majority of the rest are just straight up substance abusers that past the point where friends and family members tolerate being abused by them any more. I been around that side of things most of my adult life and I don't even have a clue on how to help people that are at the point where they would rather live under a bridge than quit whatever their addiction of choice. My point being that most of these people are there because of choices that they will continue to make. Those families with economic emergencies, like are Sailor below, are often left out of the mix since not many want to expose their children to the typical shelter, even through they are the group most likely to be helped and return to a normal existence. There some groups that focus on these a bit more, the Salvation Army, as an example.
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Without a solid plan, and transparency of where the GoFundMe funds are going, your idea is not going to fly - sorry - but that is just the way it is, too many people scam GoFundMe, and patreon etc etc - my sincere and honest advice to you - you want to make a difference, link up with your local veterans organisations, volunteer, get active and knowledgeable about future political candidates and their platforms regarding veterans - the sad plight of our vets is not something that can be solved by GoFundMe's - much as we all wish it could, but by voting, and holding those you voted for accountable for the treatment of our vets.
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PFC James (LURCH) Janota
I did link up with other veterans organizations. That’s why I know about this issue. How do you make transparency on something not started yet? You want to team up with me with this? The only way I see a way out of this is to get a large piece of land, start making Earthship Biotecture or similar buildings which are self sustainable with stuff that we can get cheaply and are highly fire resistant, and can withstand our nastiest windstorms. Make a community center with a community kitchen and recreation center operated with the community, for the community, and by the community. We could even have a fabration shop to mill out tools and wares that we need to not only survive but thrive. This should make a good transition point for our current and future veterans who have been in service both peace time and war. The alternative that is currently done is just making the situation fester and creates a never ending source of frustration with the veterans and the people who actually care about the veterans as a whole.
Maybe it’s just me seeing a way to make it possible for all of us to create a living way to thrive and get things done without having a bunch of ongoing government restriction. Why? Because this has the availability to be adaptive to the situational needs that need fulfillment. Even the disabled can help out.
Other than the above mentioned ideas, the only other way to obtain and maintain our country’s capitol in check is by being able to remove and replace them out of office mid-term if they have proven themselves unable to enable us the option and opportunity to live freely so we can thrive. Not only as veterans but as Americans like our forefathers intended.
Maybe it’s just me seeing a way to make it possible for all of us to create a living way to thrive and get things done without having a bunch of ongoing government restriction. Why? Because this has the availability to be adaptive to the situational needs that need fulfillment. Even the disabled can help out.
Other than the above mentioned ideas, the only other way to obtain and maintain our country’s capitol in check is by being able to remove and replace them out of office mid-term if they have proven themselves unable to enable us the option and opportunity to live freely so we can thrive. Not only as veterans but as Americans like our forefathers intended.
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SSG Robert Perrotto
Interesting plan, have you run this by VFW or other veterans organizations? - Think your best bet to solicit the funds is through an organization that already has many of the key infrastructures in place. has the political clout to work with local and state representatives, and is a lot more trustworthy then GoFundMe. I currently live in Naples Italy, just outside the Naval support site, and the NATO base. I already help with spouses who are retirees/veterans whose significant others have civilian employment here.
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