Homelessness and Military Veterans

by Chris Vegvary

One thing I can’t understand is why there are so many military veterans out there without homes. Not just without homes, but living out there on the streets, struggling for survival, sleeping in parks or trash or wherever they can find that’s warm enough to keep them alive for the night. I just don’t get it. I’m all for equality among people and everything, but these people have served in the military and then kind of just discarded by anyone in a position to really do anything to stop it from happening. Honey Boo-Boo gets a reality TV show and becomes a celebrity for being whatever it is they’re supposed to be, but meanwhile, there’s a Vietnam veteran that got his legs blown off wheeling himself around on the sidewalk asking for change because he doesn’t have anything. Is anyone else disgusted by this?

I’ve never been homeless, but I know people who have been, and I’ve been told it’s not fun. I don’t need to go through something like that to know it’s not a good experience, and I think that probably goes for almost everyone else out there in the world. So why do we ignore the people who have helped keep the country (and by extension, us) safe when they’re asking for help? Yeah, you can throw them a little bit of change as you walk by on your way to wherever it is you’re in a hurry to, but that change is only going to go so far.

Luckily, cities like Phoenix and Salt Lake City are joining in on a plan to end homelessness among veterans. I lived in Phoenix, and while Arizona seems to have its share of problems (corrupt police officers and officials, high crime rate, etc.), this is a step in the right direction. I’ve never been to Salt Lake City and know nothing about the place, but I’m glad they’re stepping up and doing something about this issue that’s been going on probably since the beginning of war, I’m sure.

This blog isn’t intended to be a guilt trip, but an eye-opener. However, if you do feel a twinge of guilt as you look over all these words, then maybe you have a reason for it. Why not give a little extra change (or a couple dollar-dollar bills, y’all) to the next veteran you see on the side of the road holding a sign asking for help? They helped you, whether you realize it or not, and I’d say it’s about time to start repaying the favor in some way. Let’s get everyone out there a home. I know it can be done, but the naysayers will tell us it can’t. Anything can be done, but it’s a matter of whether people are willing to get up off their lazy asses and actually do something instead of sitting there and telling everyone why it won’t work.