The topic I chose for my final paper is homeless veterans. Recently I applied for a job with the Veteran’s Administration. Doing research about the position I was applying for opened my eyes to the tremendous need for assistance for our veterans and education of the general public to these needs of the veterans. The problem of homelessness is an end result of the medical and psychological problems that the veterans have incurred from their service to our country.
There was a goal made by our President that there would be no more homeless veterans by the end of 2015. There has been a decrease in the number of homeless veterans, but an increase in the number of female homeless veterans. Since I am a female veteran, this information became very personal. Thankfully I got an education, a degree in nursing, after I got out of the military. This enabled me to raise my daughter and make sure she got a good education. Fortunately when I was in the military there was no war.
After my daughter was out of school and started her career, my nursing career came to an abrupt end and I had to find another way to make a living. Before that end occurred I was able to go to school to become a massage therapist before I lost my nursing license. It only takes one incident, like in my case borrowing money from the wife of an ex-patient to get my car fixed, not knowing that it was an ethical violation.
Even though I became a massage therapist the money and the job opportunities were not the same. No longer could I afford my apartment, but fortunately was able to rent a room from someone so was not homeless, or was I? Since moving out to Virginia where housing is very expensive I see many adults renting rooms in houses with complete strangers because that is all they can afford.
sunshinegirlonarainyday.blogspot.comGoing back to school to get my bachelor’s degree in Communications was a way for me to be able to start a new career so that I can someday have my own home and not to live in someone else’s. There are different types of homelessness, I feel I am part of the new homeless like many other people in my community, who are not living in their own home, but in a room in the house of a stranger.
The fact that I am warm, healthy, and not hungry, makes me very thankful for what I do have and makes me want to help those who do not have even their basic needs met. One way I can help is by writing a paper to educate people so that the goal of no homeless veterans will be obtained in 2015.
Thesis Statement
Talking about patriotism and a free America does not seem right when those that have fought for that freedom are huddled up under bridges or on park benches with no food or heat. To become “America the Beautiful” we have to extend our help and our hearts to those in need, the American Veterans.
Ending the problem of homeless veterans is a goal that is going to take the cooperation of many people and the education and assistance provided not only by the Veteran’s Administration but by many levels of the government as well. This paper will provide information and educate about the causes of veteran homelessness and the steps that are being taken to end the dreadful lifestyle that the veterans have ended up living after serving in the military.
live.hollywoodjesus.comAnnotated Bibliography
Davis, J. (2013) The ‘Invisible Monster’: A Homeless Female Veteran’s Journey to Take Back
Her Life from PTSD retrieved from http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/10803/the-invisible-monster-ahomeless-female-veterans-journey-to-take-back-her-life-from-ptsd/
This is an exceptional article of a firsthand account of a female veteran who became homeless due to traumatic events that happened to her while serving in the military. She did not know that the terrible feelings that would overcome her, which she called the invisible monster, was a real disease with a real name, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One day she got the courage to seek help by walking into the VA hospital. That is the day her life began to change. Through the medical help and various programs the VA has in place veterans are able to get the help they need. The information provided in this article is not only fairly recent (2013) but comes directly from the perception of someone who has lived through all of the terrible circumstances and events.
Molinari, V., Brown, L., Frahm, K., Schinka, J., Casey, R. (2013) Perceptions of Homelessness
in Older Homeless Veterans, VA Homeless Program Staff Liaisons, and Housing Intervention Providers; Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved 24.2 ; retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/docview/1373219091?accountid=32521
This group of scholars did a tremendous job of showing another side to the homeless veteran situation. The needs and challenges of the older veterans are presented after focus groups were formed and researched to gather the necessary data. This data was used to help address those needs that became apparent through this effective research. The biggest differences between the older and younger veterans, is less social support as well as more health and employment challenges. Along with these differences brings diverse needs. It is important to take into account all of the veterans, young, old, male and female. The goal is for all of the homeless veterans to be in homes by the end of 2015.
Moore, W. (2014) The Huffington Post: Army Veteran Wes Moore Speaks Out on the Unspoken
Plight of the Homeless Female Vets retrieved from http://embed.live.huffingtonpost.com/HPLEmbedPlayer/?
segmentId=5329afe22b8c2a24f7000866&autoPlay=false
This is an excellent video about a veteran’s perception of what happens when veteran’s come home from a war zone. Wes Moore reveals a compelling personal account of the causes of veteran homelessness. There are discussions about other situations that involve veterans that have become homeless due to witnessing and experiencing horrifying and gruesome acts while in the war. This is one of several segments that was put out by Huffington Post. Wes Moore obtained his statistics from creditable sources, so along with his firsthand experience of having been a homeless veteran and creditable sources to back up his facts, this is a valid source of information.
NPR.org (n.d.) Homeless Vets: They're Not Just Single Men Anymore; retrieved from
https://audioboom.com/boos/2485492-homeless-vets-they-re-not-just-single-men- anymore
This podcast is from NPR.org which is a creditable news radio organization. It shared notable information about the decreases in the number of homeless veterans. Unfortunately that bit of good news was overshadowed by the bad news that the number of homeless women veterans have increased. Even more daunting is the realization that they are also mothers which means children are among the homeless victims as well. This information brings a whole different perspective to an already abhorrent situation.
Professional Services Close-up (2012) Department of Veterans Affairs Approves Grants for
Homeless Veterans; retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy-
library.ashford.edu/docview/1069276132?accountid=32521
As the drive toward reaching the goal to end homelessness among veterans, this extremely informative article illustrates the innovative ways that the VA is finding to permanently house veterans who were formerly homeless. Approval of a grant worth $28.4 million will fund 38 projects in 25 states and the District of Columbia. This is one of many articles that emphasizes the amount of support and participation the VA is providing the men and women who so selflessly served in the military to protect the rights of us all. This article explains clearly how the goal of no homeless veterans by the end of 2015 will be possible.
Veterans Affairs Department Documents and Publications (2014) Solicitation of Nominations for
Appointment to the Advisory Committee of Homeless Veterans; retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/docview/1552461891?accountid=32521
This article provides relevant information about the steps being taken to assemble a committee that will advocate on behalf of homeless veterans. The nomination committee is searching for individuals that have experience, expertise, and proficiency in areas such as treatment of individuals with mental illness, substance use disorders, as well as development of permanent housing alternatives for lower income populations. There are many other groups that have qualified individuals that are being considered for appointment to this advisory committee that will play a critical role to ending veteran homelessness.
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