Veterans: Why Are They Homeless & Hungry?

On Saturday, November 13, 2010, I will be “homeless” in Houston for one night along with thousands across the city. November is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month and the week before Thanksgiving (November 14-20) has been officially declared National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. During this week, a number of schools, communities and cities take part in a nationwide effort to bring greater awareness to the problems of hunger and homelessness.

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, each year 3.5 million Americans experience homelessness and on any given night, over 700,000 people are homeless. Studies indicate that children make up 23% of those experiencing homelessness while 40% of homeless men have served in the armed forces. Every night in America an estimated 100,000 veterans are homeless in the streets or housed in relief centers. Today is Veterans Day, but is this how America’s veterans should be living after sacrificing their lives?