Here and Elsewhere, Vets Especially Plagued by Homelessness"

Willie Moore Jr., a war veteran, wakes up around 5:30 every morning. After some coffee and a glance at the news, he’s ready to start the day. After attending meetings at Michigan Works! and talking to his caseworker at Volunteers of America, he begins looking for a job.

Moore hasn’t held a job for 10 years, but he’s still optimistic about finding one. He takes advantage of services offered to homeless veterans in the Lansing area.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, at least 195,000 veterans were homeless in America in 2006. Veterans are grossly overrepresented in the homeless community, according to Patrick Patterson, VoA’s vice president of operations in Lansing. “One in eight of the general population is a veteran,” Patterson said. “You’ll find vets in the homeless population around 25 percent.” Patterson said that the greater Lansing area plays host to an average 700 homeless individuals on any given day. Roughly 175 of them are veterans.  (Author)

The explanation for the vast amount of homeless veterans stems from three main causes, says Cheryl Beversdorf, president of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. She said some soldiers are hindered by mental illnesses or physical disabilities caused by war trauma or substance abuse. Finding a job is also difficult, as many soldiers joined the service in lieu of attending college and never learned how to prepare a resume and market themselves as potential employees. The third reason is a lack of cheap, safe, affordable housing. The article examines the experiences Willie Moore Jr., a war veterand had dealing with substance abuse and mental health issues. Moore was seeking help for substance abuse in Battle Creek when he heard about the VoA Veterans Housing Program offered in Lansing. The program provides shelter, substance abuse training, counseling and other services to veterans for 18 months. After “graduating,” VoA helps graduates land a job. As soon as he starts working, he owes 30 percent of his earnings to the Advent House, the sponsor of the living arrangement. Moore is now living alone, in Lansing MI, and enjoying life. “I love it here,” Moore said. “It’s pretty easy going. Slow. That’s what I need.”<br />

Publication Date: 
2007
Location: 
Lansing City, MI, USA