Some good news, bad news too, but certainly not good enough for a country that loves to wave flags of patriotism, have parades and welcome homes, with many symbols and words of same, but once again shows what it's really made of. A few within who get it and form successful organizations but have to fight for donations and with a continued underfunded agency it's responsible for especially as it cheers on wars, adding quickly in numbers and consistently to that agencies needs, and seek more wars with tough talk from those not sending their own into!
No Revenues {nor private capital economic investments - reaganomic capitalism} = No Sacrifice = No Support = DeJa-Vu all over again!
VA figures show steep decline in number of homeless veterans
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WASHINGTON — May 30, 2012 - Fewer than 60,000 veterans are now believed to be homeless, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki said Wednesday, a decline of more than 90,000 from public estimates four years ago.
But VA officials warn that getting the remaining veterans off the streets — and meeting their goal of ending veterans homelessness by 2015 — may prove even more difficult in the years to come.
On Wednesday, at the annual conference of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, Shinseki said that department officials now estimate that fewer than 60,000 veterans find themselves living on the streets on any given night.
“We’re still not where we need to be,” Shinseki said at the annual conference of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. “Our veterans are still counting on us to bring a sense of urgency to this fight.”
Shinseki’s estimate is 20 percent lower than the VA’s official homeless count in 2010. Meanwhile, the overall U.S. homeless population has decreased only slightly in recent years, from about 643,000 in 2009 to 636,000 in 2011, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
But advocates for the homeless credit the dramatic turnaround with veterans to renewed efforts to provide them housing and health care, following Shinseki’s public pledge in 2009 to end veterans homelessness in five years. read more>>>
Shinseki and company started on this en devour right around the time that the executive administration fought for and got only a small chunk of what was publicly needed, little in private investment economic growth is still ongoing, for the economy with the recovery funds that a certain, they still call it, political ideology slam as not working. They used some of their share of to move forward with the Veterans homeless population help and a number of other issues, new and old and much needed.
One of the ways they tackled the homeless problem is by joining others who had already been trying to eliminate much of it across the country, in partnership with.
Most of us Veterans don't leave our brothers and sisters behind, but the Country does and has for decades, even some vets, DeJa-Vu nothing changes!!
VA Announces Partnership to House 10,000 Homeless Veterans in 2012
Agency will collaborate with the "One Hundred Thousand Homes" Campaign
May 30, 2012 - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it will collaborate with the "100,000 Homes" Campaign and its 117 participating communities to help find permanent housing for 10,000 vulnerable and chronically homeless Veterans this year.
"President Obama and I are personally committed to ending homelessness among Veterans," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki. "Those who have served this Nation as Veterans should never find themselves on the streets, living without care and without hope."
The collaboration is intended to help accomplish Secretary Shinseki's goal of ending Veteran homelessness in 2015. It will also support the ongoing work of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness and a host of state and local organizations working to implement "Opening Doors," the federal plan to end chronic and Veteran homelessness. According to the 2011 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress, homelessness among Veterans has declined 12 percent since January 2010. read more>>>
In these economic times and with the lack of the trickle down capitalism of those oft named 'job creators' not paying their fair share especially in their need to maintain their wealth with healthy infrastructure, and that's much more then roads and bridges, this is what faces this generations of returning Veterans and their families as well as the total disconnect of the country served to what the military branches actually do and teach.
Veterans lose confidence in finding jobs: survey
May 30, 2012 - More U.S. military veterans expect to look for work in coming months as they return to civilian life, many after being stationed in Afghanistan, but they are less confident about finding work that suits them, according to a new survey.
The twice-yearly survey, by Monster Worldwide Inc, found fewer than half of veterans consider themselves ready to move into civilian jobs. The number who say they are confident about finding suitable work fell to 29 percent from 44 percent six months ago.
Besides entering a tough U.S. labor market where job gains are barely keeping up with population growth, veterans are also facing more skeptical employers. Only 39 percent of employers say veterans or those with prior military experience are prepared for a career change.
Monster says part of the problem is a communications gap between veterans and employers, since many hiring managers do not understand what military work entails or what skills carry over to civilian jobs. Ex-military applicants, used to working in teams, don't always know how to sell themselves in an interview or take individual credit for accomplishments. read more>>>
That disconnect, in an economy we've been living with far longer then was needed and many politically run on with after elected do absolutely nothing in policy except blame others for their obstruction and chasing after issues to divide, bills paid for by those 'job creators', isn't only with Veterans. No longer does work experience translate into being a quick add to a company and quicker growth for, no matter what your highly touted resume says, bodies that can be quickly canned or replaced, at cheaper wages and benefits, is all that matters for bottom line growth!