Homeless Veterans
How many times have you see a homeless person with an American flag taped or stuck to his backpack or wheelchair? It’s Los Angeles, the Homeless Capital of the U.S.—you probably see it rather often. More than likely, these individuals are homeless veterans. Why are there so many homeless veterans? There are numerous and deep-rooted reasons veterans become homeless. Following is just a quick overview.
Many men and women who have served our country in the armed forces often fall through the cracks somewhere between being discharged from the military and starting a civilian life. Making that transition can be challenging enough but when veterans’ benefits don’t kick in right away or when individuals don’t receive retraining for civilian jobs, veterans can find themselves facing what seems to be insurmountable obstacles to stable living.
Many veterans come from low-income backgrounds so when they return from service they face a higher cost of living and lack of affordable housing. Drug and alcohol abuse is another factor that can plague some veterans, causing them to become homeless, while others suffer from mental health issues such as depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Individuals with such conditions often isolate themselves which makes establishing and maintaining relationships outside of the service one more challenge. Having no support network also plays a role in why veterans represent a substantial percentage of the homeless population. In addition, veterans who have seen action may return with physical disabilities which make finding employment even more difficult.
Located in Los Angeles, the Weingart Center offers homeless veterans reintegration programs, which provide transitional housing for homeless veterans who have fallen on hard times. In addition, we offer a variety of veteran services which include mental health and substance abuse treatment. We also help find jobs for homeless veterans by providing personalized employment plans as well as job placement assistance and follow-up services to keep job satisfaction high.
