My wife and I are both veterans. We are not homeless, but we could have been, and could still be if we ever give up. I gave 20 years of my life, and the wife gave 4 years. I was stationed in and moved to different locations 14 times while on active duty. I lost the first 2 years of my son's life because I was at remote locations overseas...I and my wife gave up a lot so the people of this country can and could have their freedom and priviledges to run their mouths and burn my precious Flag. So we will make it, and we will be happy, and we will keep on keeping on so we won't be homeless.
You cried over what? LIARS?! Homeless veterans are not being helped. America has tons of people who are paid well, just to pretend. ALL of these people show up, with house keys of their own in their pockets, but nobody is sharing anything. Stop wasting money by PRETENDING! Stop pretending that the homeless do not want help! Americans have taken their freedom for granted & have no appreciation for the cost of freedom. I'm a disabled veteran of 40 years, who has been homeless for the past 30 years. I do not do drugs, & have a clean record with no felonies & no misdemeanors. NEVER, EVER donate to charities! They're ALL corrupt. This video is pure dishonesty.
No we are not above any other citizen. But we did serve and fight for you to have the rights and freedom to live the way you want to, and that is a way that I gave 20 years of my life to protect, and my wife gave 4 years of her life.
they are ordinary citizens who gave more than an ordinary citizen and they should be given one square mile of land on returning from any bloody engagement and that's coming from a redman,whoever fights for this land owns whats under his feet,don't want to give a way land,don't start foreign wars with unknown people ,make no foreign alliances,REMEMBER?
LIAR! Stand downs do not help the homeless. PERIOD! I've been a disabled veteran for 40 years & homeless for the past 30 years. I've been to more stand downs than you want to count, & have never been offered ANY help for housing. The VA, 211 or United Way & countless other charities refuse to help the homeless, veterans or not. The vast majority of our homeless are disabled or elderly. (NOT drug addicts, as corporate media suggests)
After 23 yrs of active duty of my adult life from age 19+ on, one of the problems we Vets have is the feeling that no one understands us. We believe that only a Vet understands a Vet. It’s a big problem.
My husband was definitely lucky. I was already a Disabled Army Veteran when he met me. He was Active Duty. I was able to help him navigate through the system easily because I knew the process in and out. I made sure I saved enough money from working so when he got out, we wouldn’t suffer financially. I made sure he retired. Those last 8 years were tough because he almost lost his leg on deployment and I made sure to keep him up with his job and getting promoted. I kept things going behind the scenes and made sure things got done.
When America refuses to house our homeless veterans, what else do you expect? I've been to more stand downs than I can count, but have never been offered ANY help to get housing. If stand downs are supposed to help the homeless veterans, they have failed, like the VA is a failure.
Our homeless combat veterans deserve more of this country's resources. These real and true AMERICANS have put themselves in harms way to defend the freedoms that not enough of us Americans recognize as uncommon in the world today. This annual Stand Down event, I hope, by the grace of God continues. I pray that more than 9% of the attending veterans will be given the help that they have so richly earned in the present and the future.
ThankYou My Brother & Fellow Vet John who started this in 1988. Im Glad for All of My Fellow Vets to be at Operation: Stand Down, Ive been to one in Grant Park Chicago in the 90's I also sufferered from Chronic Homelessness, Im Sad for the Ones that got turned down for Housing because of the limitations,and Im Glad for Margarite, The Woman Vet who was Accepted, thats the way, If nothing else, that I wouldve wanted is for Her to have made it. (And 5 Years is about Up, as The VA promised and planned to end Veteran Homelessness)
I have been a disabled homeless veteran for 20 years. Nobody is helping. Victimless crimes prove that our constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness has not been upheld by veterans.
I almost became a homeless vet I wasn't on drugs,drinking; I was injured due to I.E.D. Now I am 100% disability and barely getting by. -- No one wants to do anything for the veterans returning home. It takes a longtime to get any kind of disability from the government everyone in the VA. hospital wants to fight you for all the disabilities. When you apply for the disabilities it gets lost in paperwork and the veterans has no income. It's a big problem today and all I hear is a lot of talk, no action. It's incredible that we can spend billions of dollars on recruiting for our armed serves but have no money for returning veterans.
This video let me know im not alone. I was homeless for over 9 months. I have been on 5 combat deployments and i have problems dealing with civilian people. What pisses me off is i have applied for over 100 jobs and i have yet to find a job. I saved my disiblity money from the VA to get a home. If i dont get a job with in a few months i will be back on the streets. Its bullshit that VETS are not getting more help to find jobs.
At least you can get your disability. I lost my hearing because of serving, and I can't get hearing aids or the small $100.00 a month for the disability.
I always wondered how the military went to war and then come home and be asked to take out the trash. Why not keep them in the military till they are ready to leave. Seems they all need help after the war.
the young marine reservist. i can appreciate his position. that was me after desert storm. yeah, i would have lied and claimed to be a drug or alcohol addict so that i could get a bed to sleep in. he's homeless and still serving in the reserves and subject to deployment. yep, that was me 20 plus years ago. i can totally relate. that's the one the guy i would take in if i could find him. his challenges are the greatest, because he doesn't fit the profile of someone in need. when he said, "i'm getting good at being homeless" and listed the articles of clothing he carries on him (2 pants, 3 shirts, etc...) it was like deja vu. i remember i was the same way. my seabag i had buried in the desert so that it wouldn't get stolen. i needed it each month i would report for duty while homeless. i was waiting for the young marine to disclose how he got cleaned up. myself i used to hop people's gates and fences and bathe in their swimming pools when nobody was home to get cleaned up. i'd swish my dirty laundry around in the pool to wash my clothes. that's how i used to do it back in the early 1990's. could i have been arrested? you bet, but i never got caught. yeah, i'd take that marine in and help him out. what he needs is a job. that's all he needs oh, and an investment to help him get started. nobody cares about him though. he's expected to have all the answers, but he doesn't. this video is from 2010. hopefully the young marine found his way. 2010 was a tough year for everyone i know. i almost lost it all and ended up on the streets again myself. hmm... i hope he's doing ok now. OOH RAH MARINE! EO1 (SCW), USN-R , 1990 - 1998 (desert storm), 2002-2006 (OIF1)
like everyone else i'm "surviving". just trying to keep my head above water. this economy just isn't giving me any breaks. i'm hopeful this year (2016) will be better. and you?
You don't think there are blind or disabled veterans? I am one & I have been homeless 20 years. Do you think I am asking you for a handout? I would rather YOU defend my right to the pursuit pf happiness & end all these victimless crimes. How can we pretend to be free while fearing a seat belt law?
We have homeless vets, broken people and working class people living in the streets. Is this any better today? Yet states like CA, NY, IL want to allow in hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens. How does allowing more people with needs into the country help alleviate this situation? We have not yet figured out to help our own vets, homeless, sick and drug addicted. Take care of the our citizens first. Fix that and then look to help others.
If you really had the right to the pursuit of happiness, then had the right to own land bestowed upon you, what have you really gained? What further ability do you have? There is only 1 correct answer: You now have the ability to deny others their right to the pursuit of happiness, in a legally defined area. All veterans have been sworn to uphold the u.s. constitution to all men, starting with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I am a homeless veteran who tried to uphold that oath, with a liberty or death stand, that was well tested & documented.
I am a 68 yo Navy Veteran,1971-77, un diagnosed PTSD for 42 years, homeless for years, hitching rides and freight trains for years, cost me 2 marrieges and 4 children...sober now and a home owner
So heartbreaking to see them hitting the streets with their bags at the end of this. And so infuriating! I would love to find out how to help homeless vets in my area after watching this...
Do not give to charities! Give directly to the person you want to help, or do not give at all. There are homeless veterans in every major city in America. I've been a disabled veteran for 40 years, & homeless for 30 years, living in my car, not in a shelter.
Time served in the Navy! The military taught me a work ethic & to arrive on time! After discharge I lived with family. Then family & relatives sent me off out of town to a trade school with money I earned & saved. From there my 'life's compass' took over!
Use closed military bases to home homeless vets. Closed Military Bases Ft McClellan. ... Charleston Naval Shipyard. ... Fort Ord. ... Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. ... Navy Recruit Training Center (RTC) Orlando. ... Navy Recruit Training Center (RTC) San Diego. ... Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. ... Philadelphia Naval Yard
And when you do come back, you are spit at, called names, protested, you get to see idiots with rights that you protected....Who can actually call themselves an American when they burn the Flag that we and so many veterans served to protect.
@@stevesealey317 Every wanker in a recliner "knows what it's all about" and they've never lifted anything heavier than a bag of groceries or put anything on the line but 10.00 on the office football bet slip. They have no idea how fucked up the rest of the world is or how desperately they want us to let them fuck up America, too. They just enjoy the results of spilled blood and boys that are sent off to return as hardened men or in a coffin.
When I join the Army I was very young. I trusted the Government blindly. As well the Military. I grew up and gave the best years of my youth to the good of the service. Now that I am old and with severe service connected disabilities, the gov turned its back on me. I was fired from a job I had at Fort Sam Houston Texas. I could not lift objects anymore and I complained one day and the same day I was fired. I was hired at the time by MWR Fort Sam Houston. I feel I was discriminated. EEO no help
Multiple deployments must stop! If you survive one turn in combat You have a chance Of surviving life. Vietnam veterans knew that they had one year in country and it would be over. Today's Army Lives knowing it is endless. I am a Coast Guard veteran And never served in Imminent danger. I cannot imagine the mental stress of repeated deployments into combat.
It's hard to explain and hard to understand how and why my comrades ended like this. I'm a veteran myself, I went to three combat tours, left my family plenty of times. But I know I had God with me the whole time. I made sure that I kept my faith, up during every tour. I came back to my family, my home and a job, a blessing from God who not only kept me safe but secured my future.
I remember watching this segment 10 years ago, 2010. I had NO idea that these veterans that fought and died to protect the American people were not better taken care of. These people went through alot and seen alot.....so you mean to tell me that their service was in vain?? No health benefits, nowhere to live, no assistance or help for those dealing with PTSD... NOTHING!!! I think it's a shame!!
There is a huge gap, my family took me in but wasn’t happy with who I was compared to the last time I was home. I couldn’t get a job as a bag boy at a Kroger’s in wheelersburg Ohio. I was over qualified and Lowe’s said the same thing. I dug graves by hand to save up money to push forward.
There should never be a vet without a job, a skill set can be learned but the discipline and single minded focus that vets can offer any employer is like gold dust!
If they would have honored their oath & upheld our right to the pursuit of happiness, we would not have victimless crimes, and they might not be homeless. I tried, but remain alone.
we have closed bases!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! put them to use by using the barracks. in my town, we have mcclellan air force base closed in 2001. barracks are vacant. put them to use for our vets.
Hall ways of schools after hours could be a place to sleep. The vets could be up with their gear packed up by 0430 as they were in the military for AM exercises. Some vets could be paid to police the area to make sure its kept clean. High schools have showers. This would supply a roof over their heads, running water and showers. Instead society turns their backs on military veterans. Mandatory drug testing and blood alcohol checks could be required to help ensure that drugs and alcohol are not brought on school grounds.
In theory vets are to get disability compensation based on the conditions they have. First there is a wait list to even be seen by the VA and on zero income vets typically can not afford to be seen elsewhere. Next after being seen by the VA many conditions are missed. If a condition is missed, odds are no matter if it is later admitted, it will NEVER be eligible for compensation. Why? The agency responsible for assigning disability will read the first few pages of a chart...and make a decision. For the rest of that vets life...the first few pages will always state ...condition not found. Even with the condition under treatment at the VA, docs sign orders and scripts but dont bother to chart progress notes. The agency responsible for looking for disability looks for progress notes, finds none...and calls the vet a liar. Even if the vet pleads to look in orders, medication lists, physical therapy orders etc...VBA workers are under no obligation to do so. As a matter of fact, the more vets that are denied and coming around again to reappply, the more job security there is at VBA. The plan for vets per my country is that we should have died on deployment. There is no park, school or other location where it is legal to stay. There are shelters where a vet may stay for a number of days then must leave. Its not permanent housing. Many of the vets burn up savings and borrow against credit cards until those max out. Then we figure out how we are going to die and when. Personally I have already decided how. I have to figure out if there are any details to get done, then decide when. I have emailed and begged the fed for better answers. I have begged for some recourse re poor charting at the VA and getting disabilities service connected. The Obama administration ....really doesnt give a damn. They did let me know if I was unhappy I could go see psych at the VA. It would be more humane if the public would just shoot veterans who return injured and unable to return to the work force. It would also be much more honest. I see how much folks pay for designer coffees, how much they pay for movies and sports entertainment. Then I see them walk past disabled vets like they were worse than a stray dog. The reality is that the country does not deserve a military. Im ashamed I served a country like that. I wish I died on deployment.
the way our veterans are treated should bring out the Merle Haggard in every American.we have deserted military bases,they could be turned into a community for any veteran who wants to live there.the government should furnish them food/supplies let them set up a system that works for them,give them a good support team.they deserve better than what they are getting,we owe them our freedom.THANK YOU SOLIDERs.i am free because you gave yours to serve others.
Why fight for a country that's going to pay you back with your own blood or if you live through everything treat like you don't exist a country like that is not worth fighting for.
as a vet i was lucky and able to move back into civilian life. living by joint base lewis mcchord and seeing what a large expanse of property that is and knowing the general size of other military branch bases I can not comprehend why the military complex and government don't have a better transition system in place. there is room to build a complex on bases for this that would allow a smooth transition while helping men/women to move back into civilian life that may not have the support. that would allow access to health and mental services that a member may need.
As a non combat veteran watching veterans homeless hurts my heart and brought tears to my eyes. when charlie the young Marine said he had no money to wash clothes so he moves on because he knows he smells bad hurt my heart Summers the lady wholost everything including family said she is better than that hurt my heart.there is no real reason for anyone who answered the call of duty to be afraid they may smell bad the so called leaders of our country waste so much money that could and should be spent to prevent homeless veterans thanks to everyone who help our vets.
Why not stay in the military?? It makes sense...if you don't have a Job...lined up before you get out....STAY IN!!! COMMON SENSE PEOPLE!!! Use your Veterans benefits to get an Education!!! Toughen up people!!!
To the State government of California, I ask the reclamation and immediate use of any abandoned military base for the use of housing homeless vets and their dependents until each case can be reconciled and they be removed from homeless status. All workers needed have already been trained from gate guards to kitchen personnel and medics to ensure the proper care and aid given to United States Veteran Citizens only.Just this act will alleviate the strain on social services in our cities. Matthew Ferguson a veteran, U.S Army Discharge general under honorable conditions rerated to Honorable. God bless America.
I am also have issues getting alone with civilian world. I could not understand that, but I see these folks struggling and telling their stories, I can relate to them very much. I had jobs at the civilian world but civilians do not have to understand what is like to be a veteran. They do not understand what is like to be in the Armed Services. that the indoctrination that each of us went through becoming a soldier is not easily shed of once we hang that army uniform. I am an American soldier.
Veterans should be respected and taken care off, after their services to their countries. It should be their countries top and highest responsiblities towards the veterans.
I couldn't agree with you more. There needs to be a checklist of things that need to be done before they leave and the start of VA paperwork should be included and started before they are formally discharged.
You got to be kidding me. 94% of the people complaining on this video saw the Army as just another way to get free shit for 4 years. They enlisted in some non-combat MOSs and they wanted to get their illegitimate children on a healthcare plan. They are hardly veterans, just a bunch of crying degenerates who expect a handout because they couldn't finish High School.
I'm happy for Margarette Summers that she found a place for living. She doesn't look like one deserving of an arrest record, and may have end up in the wrong place at the wrong time due to no fault of her own. But with 200k vets on the street, most with impeccable impressive honors in the military, let alone at the reception of their homecoming, nobody giving a damn, it seems expected that a citation for loitering will be granted to many of them or an arrest due to some Ptsd aggrivated behavior
@nitro300 i totally agree. its sickening. i also am a serviceman as well. i find that my friends that come home from over there, could be possibly homeless within a year. its just awful.
HOW CAN ANYONE IGNORE THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF OUR HOMELESS VETS. THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES IN A COZY ENVIRONMENT. WE ARE NOT ALONE. WE HAVE FAMILIES! YA. YOU TELL US. THANK YOU. YET, IN MARANA, ARIZONA WE ARE BEING CREMATED. WE DESERVE BETTER CONDITIONS. OBAMA CLOSED SOME BASES. WHY NOT OPEN SOME FOR THOSE COMING HOME. EVEN THE HOMELESS COULD TAKE CARE OF OUR WOUNDED!
I have to say how is this possible my dad left the us navy after 7years stationed in Charleston, SC. Bought a house built a life! There was some abusive PTSD there but he was successful in finding a job, nice house, groceries etc...🙏💋🌹💖😢💕
@@christinavelazquez8931 oh, like 2 worlds, black ops on our veterans, like Bible stuff, like deliah programs, King David lust etc. blah blah blah, love yuh, be safe, my family betrayed me, like a "job" scenario or something? 🤔
I like the job part. Don't know if it supports their country's constitution or people. There needs to be Social/Work systems setup for the vets to remain active after returning from duty.
I am sorry, this is not only heartbreaking, but also a complete outrage! I am a natural born citizen of the United States of America. Why are my Federal Tax dollars going fund programs overseas, yes overseas to fund any program???? These Soldiers have fought for our freedoms and we can't fund drug addiction, or re-entry programs for them??
World War II, 18% of the population was in uniform. Cold War (including Korea, Vietnam & Desert Storm) 8% of the population was in uniform. From the post Cold War draw down, right up to present, even with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, only 0.42% of the population is in uniform. It is easy to have endless wars, and forget about the troops when only a small fraction of the population is doing all the fighting. Every trooper killed or wounded on their second, third, fourth or fifth deployment, is doing so for someone who never got into the game. Bring back the draft, and these wars will end.
Can I help please,, I am a former Corpsman,, a Journeyman Carpenter, I want to help homeless veterans please,, got know job lots of time to help,, skills and medical knowledge to share and two hand s saw and cord and a heart.
I'm glad to see the program run by a Clinical Psychologist who is trying to make a difference. Unfortunately, the funding is not there to help these veterans adequately. It's more of a break from being homeless.
So 9 years later what has been done to help these veterans?. From what I see it’s worse now and it’s not just usa it’s a world wide issue. These wars are unnecessary and need to stop.
As a War Vet myself who had a fucking hard time... i say this... All programs like those are a bunch of good for nothing pile of BS, time wasting crap and with a bureaucratic purpose. I attended programs myself and all it did was to waste my time and all i got offered were way below living wage jobs. Very very few do manage to get a benefit from those programs but the vast majority wont. The benefited ones are those who got a nice volunteering performance report, appreciation letter and tax credit for charity. If Veterans were Banks..... this issue would be resolved tomorrow morning.
I dont think the first part was needed, because we are still the best country credit to these men and women, even though our government does not acknowledge them
I HAS A VET, SPEAK FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NO VOICE, BUT CARRIED A WEAPON TO FIGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY. ONLY TO FIND OURSELVES HOMELESS LIKE ABANDONED BIRDS. EVEN GOD TAKES CARE OF THE SPARROWS!
THE DOCTOR IS DOING A GREAT WORK FOR GOD AND MAN, HE IS CORRECT WE NEED TO REKINDLE THE SPIRIT AND LET THE INDIVIDUAL TAKE ACTION AND CONTROL TO REGAIN HIS OR HER ESPRIT DE CORP. BLESS YOU IN THE NAME OF GOD.
I'm SO glad I found this! Made me cry....bitter-sweet happy tears!
My wife and I are both veterans. We are not homeless, but we could have been, and could still be if we ever give up. I gave 20 years of my life, and the wife gave 4 years. I was stationed in and moved to different locations 14 times while on active duty. I lost the first 2 years of my son's life because I was at remote locations overseas...I and my wife gave up a lot so the people of this country can and could have their freedom and priviledges to run their mouths and burn my precious Flag. So we will make it, and we will be happy, and we will keep on keeping on so we won't be homeless.
You cried over what? LIARS?!
Homeless veterans are not being helped.
America has tons of people who are paid well, just to pretend.
ALL of these people show up, with house keys of their own in their pockets, but nobody is sharing anything.
Stop wasting money by PRETENDING!
Stop pretending that the homeless do not want help!
Americans have taken their freedom for granted & have no appreciation for the cost of freedom.
I'm a disabled veteran of 40 years, who has been homeless for the past 30 years.
I do not do drugs, & have a clean record with no felonies & no misdemeanors.
NEVER, EVER donate to charities! They're ALL corrupt.
This video is pure dishonesty.
No Vet should be homeless!!
should vets have higher level in society than ordinary citizen?
They are still bums begging and laying around drunk all the time nasty nasty generous
No we are not above any other citizen. But we did serve and fight for you to have the rights and freedom to live the way you want to, and that is a way that I gave 20 years of my life to protect, and my wife gave 4 years of her life.
No they shouldn't!!
they are ordinary citizens who gave more than an ordinary citizen and they should be given one square mile of land on returning from any bloody engagement and that's coming from a redman,whoever fights for this land owns whats under his feet,don't want to give a way land,don't start foreign wars with unknown people ,make no foreign alliances,REMEMBER?
I can't even stop crying..despicable does not even begin to describe it.
The "Stand Down" is a godsend for many veterans in need of various forms of assistance.
LIAR!
Stand downs do not help the homeless. PERIOD!
I've been a disabled veteran for 40 years & homeless for the past 30 years.
I've been to more stand downs than you want to count, & have never been offered ANY help for housing.
The VA, 211 or United Way & countless other charities refuse to help the homeless, veterans or not.
The vast majority of our homeless are disabled or elderly. (NOT drug addicts, as corporate media suggests)
this brought tears to my eyes...
This is beyond heart breaking... Glad I get to help fellow brothers and sisters this weekend. Fuck, this is just not right at all!
All vets should be well looked after they've done their bit for their country they deserve something back. ....
I lost my hearing while serving, and am still fighting to try and get hearing aids.
After 23 yrs of active duty of my adult life from age 19+ on, one of the problems we Vets have is the feeling that no one understands us. We believe that only a Vet understands a Vet. It’s a big problem.
Yes. My sentiments exactly
My husband was definitely lucky. I was already a Disabled Army Veteran when he met me. He was Active Duty. I was able to help him navigate through the system easily because I knew the process in and out. I made sure I saved enough money from working so when he got out, we wouldn’t suffer financially. I made sure he retired. Those last 8 years were tough because he almost lost his leg on deployment and I made sure to keep him up with his job and getting promoted. I kept things going behind the scenes and made sure things got done.
When America refuses to house our homeless veterans, what else do you expect?
I've been to more stand downs than I can count, but have never been offered ANY help to get housing.
If stand downs are supposed to help the homeless veterans, they have failed, like the VA is a failure.
Our homeless combat veterans deserve more of this country's resources. These real and true AMERICANS have put themselves in harms way to defend the freedoms that not enough of us Americans recognize as uncommon in the world today. This annual Stand Down event, I hope, by the grace of God continues. I pray that more than 9% of the attending veterans will be given the help that they have so richly earned in the present and the future.
my heart is breaking.
ThankYou My Brother & Fellow Vet John who started this in 1988. Im Glad for All of My Fellow Vets to be at Operation: Stand Down, Ive been to one in Grant Park Chicago in the 90's I also sufferered from Chronic Homelessness, Im Sad for the Ones that got turned down for Housing because of the limitations,and Im Glad for Margarite, The Woman Vet who was Accepted, thats the way, If nothing else, that I wouldve wanted is for Her to have made it. (And 5 Years is about Up, as The VA promised and planned to end Veteran Homelessness)
I have been a disabled homeless veteran for 20 years. Nobody is helping. Victimless crimes prove that our constitutional right to the pursuit of happiness has not been upheld by veterans.
Please let's help the veterans were free thanks to them please have a beautiful heart
I almost became a homeless vet I wasn't on drugs,drinking; I was injured due to I.E.D. Now I am 100% disability and barely getting by. -- No one wants to do anything for the veterans returning home. It takes a longtime to get any kind of disability from the government everyone in the VA. hospital wants to fight you for all the disabilities. When you apply for the disabilities it gets lost in paperwork and the veterans has no income. It's a big problem today and all I hear is a lot of talk, no action. It's incredible that we can spend billions of dollars on recruiting for our armed serves but have no money for returning veterans.
This video let me know im not alone. I was homeless for over 9 months. I have been on 5 combat deployments and i have problems dealing with civilian people. What pisses me off is i have applied for over 100 jobs and i have yet to find a job. I saved my disiblity money from the VA to get a home. If i dont get a job with in a few months i will be back on the streets. Its bullshit that VETS are not getting more help to find jobs.
At least you can get your disability. I lost my hearing because of serving, and I can't get hearing aids or the small $100.00 a month for the disability.
There is no is excuse for a soldier to ever go without
are they above ordinary citizen?
I always wondered how the military went to war and then come home and be asked to take out the trash. Why not keep them in the military till they are ready to leave. Seems they all need help after the war.
god please bless our vets and give them happyness and good health and whatever else they migh need.
God bless all vets
The fact that they couldn't help every vet makes me sick.
Salute all vets world wide god bless
the young marine reservist. i can appreciate his position. that was me after desert storm. yeah, i would have lied and claimed to be a drug or alcohol addict so that i could get a bed to sleep in. he's homeless and still serving in the reserves and subject to deployment. yep, that was me 20 plus years ago. i can totally relate.
that's the one the guy i would take in if i could find him. his challenges are the greatest, because he doesn't fit the profile of someone in need.
when he said, "i'm getting good at being homeless" and listed the articles of clothing he carries on him (2 pants, 3 shirts, etc...) it was like deja vu. i remember i was the same way. my seabag i had buried in the desert so that it wouldn't get stolen. i needed it each month i would report for duty while homeless. i was waiting for the young marine to disclose how he got cleaned up. myself i used to hop people's gates and fences and bathe in their swimming pools when nobody was home to get cleaned up. i'd swish my dirty laundry around in the pool to wash my clothes. that's how i used to do it back in the early 1990's. could i have been arrested? you bet, but i never got caught.
yeah, i'd take that marine in and help him out. what he needs is a job. that's all he needs oh, and an investment to help him get started. nobody cares about him though. he's expected to have all the answers, but he doesn't. this video is from 2010. hopefully the young marine found his way. 2010 was a tough year for everyone i know. i almost lost it all and ended up on the streets again myself. hmm...
i hope he's doing ok now. OOH RAH MARINE!
EO1 (SCW), USN-R , 1990 - 1998 (desert storm), 2002-2006 (OIF1)
Are you okay now sir?
like everyone else i'm "surviving". just trying to keep my head above water. this economy just isn't giving me any breaks. i'm hopeful this year (2016) will be better.
and you?
+Robert Lowe I'm no Veteran. But I might be soon. I just wanted to know if your alright
Robert Lowe God Bless and I pray your pain has healed.
No one in this rich country that can and will work should be homeless
You don't think there are blind or disabled veterans? I am one & I have been homeless 20 years.
Do you think I am asking you for a handout?
I would rather YOU defend my right to the pursuit pf happiness & end all these victimless crimes.
How can we pretend to be free while fearing a seat belt law?
halliburton and the military industrial complex should be donating billions to help these people out.
We have homeless vets, broken people and working class people living in the streets. Is this any better today?
Yet states like CA, NY, IL want to allow in hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens.
How does allowing more people with needs into the country help alleviate this situation?
We have not yet figured out to help our own vets, homeless, sick and drug addicted. Take care of the our citizens first. Fix that and then look to help others.
We need all 50 states to provide housing for all of our veterans, they love their country and the land, land of the free and home of the brave
Land of the free that makes us slaves
Free to be handcuffed and sent to jail for a victimless crime.
If you really had the right to the pursuit of happiness, then had the right to own land bestowed upon you, what have you really gained?
What further ability do you have?
There is only 1 correct answer:
You now have the ability to deny others their right to the pursuit of happiness, in a legally defined area.
All veterans have been sworn to uphold the u.s. constitution to all men, starting with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
I am a homeless veteran who tried to uphold that oath, with a liberty or death stand, that was well tested & documented.
I am a 68 yo Navy Veteran,1971-77, un diagnosed PTSD for 42 years, homeless for years, hitching rides and freight trains for years, cost me 2 marrieges and 4 children...sober now and a home owner
So heartbreaking to see them hitting the streets with their bags at the end of this. And so infuriating! I would love to find out how to help homeless vets in my area after watching this...
Do not give to charities!
Give directly to the person you want to help, or do not give at all.
There are homeless veterans in every major city in America.
I've been a disabled veteran for 40 years, & homeless for 30 years, living in my car, not in a shelter.
SOLDIERS COME HOME HOMELESS. MAKES YOU WANT TO CRY. THEY SERVED US NOW TIME TO TAKE CARE OF THEM. MY PRAYERS WITH ALL OF THEM.
Time served in the Navy! The military taught me a work ethic & to arrive on time! After discharge I lived with family. Then family & relatives sent me off out of town to a trade school with money I earned & saved. From there my 'life's compass' took over!
Use closed military bases to home homeless vets.
Closed Military Bases
Ft McClellan. ...
Charleston Naval Shipyard. ...
Fort Ord. ...
Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. ...
Navy Recruit Training Center (RTC) Orlando. ...
Navy Recruit Training Center (RTC) San Diego. ...
Myrtle Beach Air Force Base. ...
Philadelphia Naval Yard
God bless them all and thank you for your service.
Nobody comes home from war. Because home isn't there anymore and you're not the person who left it. You just come back.
And when you do come back, you are spit at, called names, protested, you get to see idiots with rights that you protected....Who can actually call themselves an American when they burn the Flag that we and so many veterans served to protect.
@@stevesealey317 Every wanker in a recliner "knows what it's all about" and they've never lifted anything heavier than a bag of groceries or put anything on the line but 10.00 on the office football bet slip. They have no idea how fucked up the rest of the world is or how desperately they want us to let them fuck up America, too. They just enjoy the results of spilled blood and boys that are sent off to return as hardened men or in a coffin.
Stay up! Hang in there! Brothers and sisters in arms.
i would love to help them
America, we need to help these heroes. They stood for us once why ignore them? I can't do it alone but we all can make it happen right?
Service men and woman served their Country. Now their Country MUST serve them!
Congratulations. ❤
When I join the Army I was very young. I trusted the Government blindly. As well the Military. I grew up and gave the best years of my youth to the good of the service. Now that I am old and with severe service connected disabilities, the gov turned its back on me. I was fired from a job I had at Fort Sam Houston Texas. I could not lift objects anymore and I complained one day and the same day I was fired. I was hired at the time by MWR Fort Sam Houston. I feel I was discriminated. EEO no help
God. Bless. This. Fine. Man. Amen
An excellent documentary
I attended this Stand Down and I got off the streets after 8 years. Signalman 3rd (SW) Weathers.
Salute all vets
Multiple deployments must stop! If you survive one turn in combat You have a chance Of surviving life. Vietnam veterans knew that they had one year in country and it would be over. Today's Army Lives knowing it is endless. I am a Coast Guard veteran And never served in Imminent danger. I cannot imagine the mental stress of repeated deployments into combat.
It's hard to explain and hard to understand how and why my comrades ended like this. I'm a veteran myself, I went to three combat tours, left my family plenty of times. But I know I had God with me the whole time. I made sure that I kept my faith, up during every tour. I came back to my family, my home and a job, a blessing from God who not only kept me safe but secured my future.
WHERE THE HELL IS THE VA
Spending bilions on war while vets were homeless
I remember watching this segment 10 years ago, 2010. I had NO idea that these veterans that fought and died to protect the American people were not better taken care of. These people went through alot and seen alot.....so you mean to tell me that their service was in vain?? No health benefits, nowhere to live, no assistance or help for those dealing with PTSD... NOTHING!!! I think it's a shame!!
There is a huge gap, my family took me in but wasn’t happy with who I was compared to the last time I was home. I couldn’t get a job as a bag boy at a Kroger’s in wheelersburg Ohio. I was over qualified and Lowe’s said the same thing. I dug graves by hand to save up money to push forward.
There should never be a vet without a job, a skill set can be learned but the discipline and single minded focus that vets can offer any employer is like gold dust!
They give all they have and get this in return SAD
If they would have honored their oath & upheld our right to the pursuit of happiness, we would not have victimless crimes, and they might not be homeless.
I tried, but remain alone.
we have closed bases!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! put them to use by using the barracks. in my town, we have mcclellan air force base closed in 2001. barracks are vacant. put them to use for our vets.
This stand down camp is wonderful it’s a damn shame that they are treated this way
Governments and the ordinary citizens should be ashamed of themselves of how the veterans are miss treated.
Help all vets no one gets left . Behind
Hall ways of schools after hours could be a place to sleep. The vets could be up with their gear packed up by 0430 as they were in the military for AM exercises. Some vets could be paid to police the area to make sure its kept clean. High schools have showers. This would supply a roof over their heads, running water and showers. Instead society turns their backs on military veterans. Mandatory drug testing and blood alcohol checks could be required to help ensure that drugs and alcohol are not brought on school grounds.
+Katherine Rogers why arent vets given a paycheck, or have some kind of veteran pension????????/ i dont get it
In theory vets are to get disability compensation based on the conditions they have.
First there is a wait list to even be seen by the VA and on zero income vets typically can not afford to be seen elsewhere.
Next after being seen by the VA many conditions are missed. If a condition is missed, odds are no matter if it is later admitted, it will NEVER be eligible for compensation. Why? The agency responsible for assigning disability will read the first few pages of a chart...and make a decision. For the rest of that vets life...the first few pages will always state ...condition not found.
Even with the condition under treatment at the VA, docs sign orders and scripts but dont bother to chart progress notes. The agency responsible for looking for disability looks for progress notes, finds none...and calls the vet a liar. Even if the vet pleads to look in orders, medication lists, physical therapy orders etc...VBA workers are under no obligation to do so. As a matter of fact, the more vets that are denied and coming around again to reappply, the more job security there is at VBA.
The plan for vets per my country is that we should have died on deployment. There is no park, school or other location where it is legal to stay. There are shelters where a vet may stay for a number of days then must leave. Its not permanent housing. Many of the vets burn up savings and borrow against credit cards until those max out. Then we figure out how we are going to die and when. Personally I have already decided how. I have to figure out if there are any details to get done, then decide when.
I have emailed and begged the fed for better answers. I have begged for some recourse re poor charting at the VA and getting disabilities service connected. The Obama administration ....really doesnt give a damn. They did let me know if I was unhappy I could go see psych at the VA.
It would be more humane if the public would just shoot veterans who return injured and unable to return to the work force. It would also be much more honest.
I see how much folks pay for designer coffees, how much they pay for movies and sports entertainment. Then I see them walk past disabled vets like they were worse than a stray dog. The reality is that the country does not deserve a military. Im ashamed I served a country like that. I wish I died on deployment.
the way our veterans are treated should bring out the Merle Haggard in every American.we have deserted military bases,they could be turned into a community for any veteran who wants to live there.the government should furnish them food/supplies let them set up a system that works for them,give them a good support team.they deserve better than what they are getting,we owe them our freedom.THANK YOU SOLIDERs.i am free because you gave yours to serve others.
Why fight for a country that's going to pay you back with your own blood or if you live through everything treat like you don't exist a country like that is not worth fighting for.
that's treason.
as a vet i was lucky and able to move back into civilian life. living by joint base lewis mcchord and seeing what a large expanse of property that is and knowing the general size of other military branch bases I can not comprehend why the military complex and government don't have a better transition system in place. there is room to build a complex on bases for this that would allow a smooth transition while helping men/women to move back into civilian life that may not have the support. that would allow access to health and mental services that a member may need.
As a non combat veteran watching veterans homeless hurts my heart and brought tears to my eyes. when charlie the young Marine said he had no money to wash clothes so he moves on because he knows he smells bad hurt my heart Summers the lady wholost everything including family said she is better than that hurt my heart.there is no real reason for anyone who answered the call of duty to be afraid they may smell bad the so called leaders of our country waste so much money that could and should be spent to prevent homeless veterans thanks to everyone who help our vets.
Why not stay in the military?? It makes sense...if you don't have a Job...lined up before you get out....STAY IN!!! COMMON SENSE PEOPLE!!!
Use your Veterans benefits to get an Education!!! Toughen up people!!!
To the State government of California, I ask the reclamation and immediate use of any abandoned military base for the use of housing homeless vets and their dependents until each case can be reconciled and they be removed from homeless status. All workers needed have already been trained from gate guards to kitchen personnel and medics to ensure the proper care and aid given to United States Veteran Citizens only.Just this act will alleviate the strain on social services in our cities. Matthew Ferguson a veteran, U.S Army Discharge general under honorable conditions rerated to Honorable. God bless America.
Heart breaking
I am also have issues getting alone with civilian world. I could not understand that, but I see these folks struggling and telling their stories, I can relate to them very much. I had jobs at the civilian world but civilians do not have to understand what is like to be a veteran. They do not understand what is like to be in the Armed Services. that the indoctrination that each of us went through becoming a soldier is not easily shed of once we hang that army uniform. I am an American soldier.
whats the problem then?
Veterans should be respected and taken care off, after their services to their countries. It should be their countries top and highest responsiblities towards the veterans.
This needs to be in the infrastructure plan help them
I couldn't agree with you more. There needs to be a checklist of things that need to be done before they leave and the start of VA paperwork should be included and started before they are formally discharged.
It's sad to see the country do the Vets when they served their country.
You got to be kidding me. 94% of the people complaining on this video saw the Army as just another way to get free shit for 4 years. They enlisted in some non-combat MOSs and they wanted to get their illegitimate children on a healthcare plan. They are hardly veterans, just a bunch of crying degenerates who expect a handout because they couldn't finish High School.
For the most part you are right . Very few if any have done anything positive for the country or planet.
can someone tell me how a vet goes homeless ?? like when you get out dont you have money or just look for a job right after
No that not true .
Why can't we make a more permanent building for these people?
I'm happy for Margarette Summers that she found a place for living. She doesn't look like one deserving of an arrest record, and may have end up in the wrong place at the wrong time due to no fault of her own. But with 200k vets on the street, most with impeccable impressive honors in the military, let alone at the reception of their homecoming, nobody giving a damn, it seems expected that a citation for loitering will be granted to many of them or an arrest due to some Ptsd aggrivated behavior
@nitro300
i totally agree. its sickening. i also am a serviceman as well. i find that my friends that come home from over there, could be possibly homeless within a year. its just awful.
This hurts me to see this. Wow all the money in this country
I did the homeless standdown in 2011. It was pretty fun.
They should help the veterans
HOW CAN ANYONE IGNORE THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF OUR HOMELESS VETS.
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES IN A COZY ENVIRONMENT.
WE ARE NOT ALONE. WE HAVE
FAMILIES!
YA. YOU TELL US. THANK YOU.
YET, IN MARANA, ARIZONA WE ARE BEING CREMATED.
WE DESERVE BETTER CONDITIONS.
OBAMA CLOSED SOME BASES.
WHY NOT OPEN SOME FOR THOSE COMING HOME.
EVEN THE HOMELESS COULD
TAKE CARE OF OUR WOUNDED!
All vets should have security in jobs and homes it's sad that they end up homeless
Im a army vet home can i volunteer? Let me know
That ending is tough to watch. So many turned away. We can spend billion$ on space crap, but not house veterans and provide vital services.
" NOT TO BE A SOLDIER, IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PATRIOTISM " Albert Einstein
I have to say how is this possible my dad left the us navy after 7years stationed in Charleston, SC. Bought a house built a life! There was some abusive PTSD there but he was successful in finding a job, nice house, groceries etc...🙏💋🌹💖😢💕
you " blood gang" huh? 😂
@@1horace- what does that mean?
@@christinavelazquez8931 oh, like 2 worlds, black ops on our veterans, like Bible stuff, like deliah programs, King David lust etc. blah blah blah, love yuh, be safe, my family betrayed me, like a "job" scenario or something? 🤔
@@1horace- ur not making sense!👎
I like the job part. Don't know if it supports their country's constitution or people.
There needs to be Social/Work systems setup for the vets to remain active after returning from duty.
I am sorry, this is not only heartbreaking, but also a complete outrage! I am a natural born citizen of the United States of America.
Why are my Federal Tax dollars going fund programs overseas, yes overseas to fund any program???? These Soldiers have fought for our freedoms and we can't fund drug addiction, or re-entry programs for them??
World War II, 18% of the population was in uniform. Cold War (including Korea, Vietnam & Desert Storm) 8% of the population was in uniform. From the post Cold War draw down, right up to present, even with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, only 0.42% of the population is in uniform. It is easy to have endless wars, and forget about the troops when only a small fraction of the population is doing all the fighting. Every trooper killed or wounded on their second, third, fourth or fifth deployment, is doing so for someone who never got into the game. Bring back the draft, and these wars will end.
No one talks about what happens when you take lives everyone ignores the true problem
I see a lot of this but I hate to say it but I wonder if it has any thing to do with sum of them not having your shit squared away
Can I help please,, I am a former Corpsman,, a Journeyman Carpenter, I want to help homeless veterans please,, got know job lots of time to help,, skills and medical knowledge to share and two hand s saw and cord and a heart.
every time i see a homeless vets i give them a 25c
I'm glad to see the program run by a Clinical Psychologist who is trying to make a difference. Unfortunately, the funding is not there to help these veterans adequately. It's more of a break from being homeless.
We can give people's low income housing why not do the same for them generations
I'm Horace Ramroop, i got hit with the " dead presidents" play, love yuh, yuh catch? 🤔
So sad
So 9 years later what has been done to help these veterans?. From what I see it’s worse now and it’s not just usa it’s a world wide issue. These wars are unnecessary and need to stop.
Life is a struggle.
This makes me Cry!!!! Go Navy
As a War Vet myself who had a fucking hard time... i say this...
All programs like those are a bunch of good for nothing pile of BS, time wasting crap and with a bureaucratic purpose.
I attended programs myself and all it did was to waste my time and all i got offered were way below living wage jobs.
Very very few do manage to get a benefit from those programs but the vast majority wont.
The benefited ones are those who got a nice volunteering performance report, appreciation letter and tax credit for charity.
If Veterans were Banks..... this issue would be resolved tomorrow morning.
homeless veterans are good
Hey I got a idea nobody should join the military, then the nation my wake up and smell the coffee.
Abandoned military bases could be used to help the homeless veterans out
The military spends a lot of money and they waste a lot of money government needs to do something to help get the American veterans off the street
I dont think the first part was needed, because we are still the best country credit to these men and women, even though our government does not acknowledge them
I HAS A VET, SPEAK FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NO VOICE, BUT CARRIED A WEAPON TO FIGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY.
ONLY TO FIND OURSELVES
HOMELESS LIKE ABANDONED
BIRDS. EVEN GOD TAKES CARE OF THE SPARROWS!
ELVIRA F. REIS 9899
CHARLIE COMPANY
STATIONED IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
THE DOCTOR IS DOING A GREAT WORK FOR GOD AND MAN, HE IS CORRECT WE NEED TO REKINDLE THE SPIRIT AND LET THE INDIVIDUAL TAKE ACTION AND CONTROL TO REGAIN HIS OR HER ESPRIT DE CORP. BLESS YOU IN THE NAME OF GOD.