Photo credit: Johnathan Greenwald
Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), Eric K. Shinseki announced today that 19 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will get more than $17 million in grants. These grants will be directed to community groups to create 1,155 beds for homeless veterans this year.
Now, why are men and woman who have served the United States in uniform, homeless? Something is very wrong with this picture, but Secretary Shinseki does not get it. So in announcing the grants he states:
“These grants will aid our efforts to eliminate homelessness among those who have served in uniform,” said Secretary Shinseki. “Our partnerships with community-based organizations provide safe, transitional housing while these Veterans leverage VA’s health care and other benefits to return to productive lives.”
What productive lives is the Secretary referring to? With nearly one in four American families suffering a job loss over the past year, and nearly 1 in 10 Americans officially unemployed, what are the prospects for veterans? Who is fooling whom?
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, these grants are a key tool in helping to eliminate homelessness among veterans. Moreover, Veterans Affairs indicate that the grants helped reduce the number of Veterans who are homeless on a typical night last year by 15 percent to about 131,000 Veterans. So what exactly does this mean? The economic situation, including joblessness is much worse this year, right? right.
The VA notes that they have the largest integrated network of homeless assistance programs in the nation and that in fiscal year 2009, VA is expected to spend $2.8 billion to provide health care and specialized homeless programs with an anticipated $400 million increase in the budget for fiscal year 2010.
Does any agency or department really want to have such a dubious distinction? The biggest budget for homeless assistance supporting United States vets? I should think not!
Oh, by the way, Florida gets quite a chunk — 11 percent of the total grants, with Orlando raking in a little over $1 million bucks.
