Homeless Veterans, 1500 from the 2 last war

[DaMagoMan]

I was shocked to see a report on tv that stated there were
1500 homeless vets from the latest Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
I'm pretty sure we have a few here in Texas due to the number of bases we still have.

What better way to learn their plight than to live with them.
Sorta what I do, learn by immersion
Mom lives 20 miles from Austin and since I don't have a job or a car, when I get a ride
"to town" I stay on the streets, yeapper a bum, just another homeless vet.
But I'm the One holding the Help Re-legalize Cannabis sign in that soup line.
They are the same as the rest of the humans on earth. They just don't have a home,
And there ranks are swelling these days.
As folks have to decide between paying for rent, food, bills or Meds.
More and more are finding no matter the choice they make,
it's just a matter of time before they too are living on the streets with the rest of US.

For me it was over 3 years ago, when I was called into my Directors office to get fired.
On 4th of July weekend, whille working Overtime I left early to get a bus home,
they stopped running after 7pm and taxis ain't cheap
I could have sold out when asked "If I had a drug problem?"
But, I didn't. Nope, No Problem.
I could have said yes and gone for a little rehab vacation on the companies dime,
and still had my 50,000$ a yr job.
I was tired of being in the closet and knew I was getting fired
because I Am a Pot Patriot(Jet Baker plug) and it was time to stand up and speak out.

My trek through the system, never selling out and always Crusading for Legal Cannabis.
I've been homeless for over a year and a half, now,
my unemployment checks ran out a long time ago.
Seems no one is even willing to call me in to talk.

I checked in last week at ARCH in Austin and received my Number.
It's a lot like prison but you can come and go as you please.
A safe place to sleep if you can handle the smell.
Oh and don't mind going to bed at 6pm and staying till 6am.
Not something I can do,
I never sleep more than 4-5 hrs a day
unless there are naked women involved.
Then I could be laid up for days

I've not had any problems with the locals.
Some thought I was a narc at first and some just don't want to know others
and the rest just think you are crazy, if you are too nice.
I'll end up the Crazy Cannabis Preacher or dumbass pothead, I'm sure.

It just hurts my heart Too much to sit around and do nothing
so I walk with them and help when I can. And Preach to All that will listen.
Don't worry,
most all the out reach folks have computers and allow us to use them
but only 10 -20 minutes at a time.
So no long stories, just updates when I can.
They feed us pretty good too, ain't no skinny homeless folks in Austin,
if they ain't junkies, that is.
Some just ain't able to read the schedule or don't know where to go,
those follks I help as well, If They want it, vet or not.
I hate to see anybody starve just because they don't know where to eat.

Waiting on the heat to break,
so I can make the run to NM and A life of MMJ and prosperity,
without dieing of heat stroke on the way

Be Safe My Brothers and Sisters
and carry your Gawd in Your Heart always.

[DaMagoMan]

The vast majority of homeless veterans are single and come from poor, disadvantaged communities. 45% suffer from mental illness, 70% suffer from substance abuse problems, and many from dual diagnosis (which is defined as a person struggling with both mental illness and a substance abuse problem). They have served in World War II, Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Operation Iraqi Freedom, or the military's anti-drug cultivation efforts in South America. 47% of them served during the Vietnam Era, more than 67% served our country for at least three years, and 33% were stationed in a war zone.

Green Doors .org

In Austin alone, there are more than 920 veterans homeless on any given night, and more than 1,400 experienced homelessness last year.

http://www.va.gov/homeless/ - main page
http://www1.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=2 - Homeless Programs & Initiatives(Grant/Free money programs)

[deanne65]

Many of the homeless are not only from the wars. The fact that it is a volunteer army makes many disadvantaged youth want to join, to see the world...yikes!...and to get a start on an education, with the great benefits of the G.I. Bill, like I took advantage of. The problem with so many of these kids-no more than early twenties when they are jettisoned- is that many do not stay in long enough to accrue any of the benefits promised them from the G.I. Bill, although, in the main, The VA medical benefits are extended to most discharged. The plain and simple truth-for many years now, especially since Vietnam, the last draft war-is that many young men and women are promised exciting careers once they enlist, only to find that their scores on the ASVAB are not high enough to qualify for the higher skilled Army jobs. So, upon discharge, there is a population of grunts, who were thinking of the military as a career, only to be disappointed later on. This structural unemployment might be reabsorbed by society but, many are left in a state of limbo for years. That seems to be one accepted explanation.

[420grower]

well I guess I will chime in since I happen to know the Mago man,and I happen to also be a paralyzed veteran,55 years old so you know what war I fought in,I stayed in well past nam and became a peace time Marine,well that didn't work for me so after my last hitch(I was a Drill Instructor at P.I.)I came home to wonderful Ohio,I have had my homeless moments,also a stint or two in prison,I like mago have been fighting the medical mj issue for 25+ years,I just won a small battle with the V.A.,my physcologist just finally gave in and put in my file that I have been clean of all opiates for over a month,I have been using nothing but medical grade mj,and I am eating again,gaining weight,and happy for once after along road of addictions,so I say to you Mago,I love you bro stay in touch,and as always,contact if you need to,I got your back bro,I hope this thread isn't mistaken for politics,its not for that its for veterans who need to reach out to others,Thanks DaMagoMan for this thread,and be safe my friend

[deanne65]

well I guess I will chime in since I happen to know the Mago man,and I happen to also be a paralyzed veteran,55 years old so you know what war I fought in,I stayed in well past nam and became a peace time Marine,well that didn't work for me so after my last hitch(I was a Drill Instructor at P.I.)I came home to wonderful Ohio,I have had my homeless moments,also a stint or two in prison,I like mago have been fighting the medical mj issue for 25+ years,I just won a small battle with the V.A.,my physcologist just finally gave in and put in my file that I have been clean of all opiates for over a month,I have been using nothing but medical grade mj,and I am eating again,gaining weight,and happy for once after along road of addictions,so I say to you Mago,I love you bro stay in touch,and as always,contact if you need to,I got your back bro,I hope this thread isn't mistaken for politics,its not for that its for veterans who need to reach out to others,Thanks DaMagoMan for this thread,and be safe my friend

Air Force veteran here, and now happily civilian. Well, it is hard not to wax political with such a topic as this, however, the important point hasn't been missed. Thanks for serving, both as a soldier, and, as a Drill instructor; you might have saved some lives with your experiences! Oh, yes, the statistics of homeless vets is very interesting, especially the socio-economic breakdown of "at risk" veterans. Those with higher educational attainment, and better jobs, over time, tend to have considerably fewer visits to MH facilities-this might be true of fewer visits to clergy, so this finding isn't altogether conclusive to me. The substance abuse "problems", is for another discussion, when the time is right.

[420grower]

I am with you brother D

[marrabundi]

One of the best things you can say to a vet when you first meet is -

Welcome home mate.

peace vets

[420grower]

thanks and welcome home all

[DaMagoMan]

Many of the homeless are not only from the wars.

Yeapper but It bothers me the Most to see folks
that have been willing to lay down their lives for service to their country treated, 'er shall we say untreated and cut loose on the streets. I don't discriminate against civilians, they just have to want help and ask.
I find it easier to start a conversation with Vets, that Band of Brothers thang, I figure :-)
From what I was told
because I didn't have any problems or complain about any thing Before I was discharged.
My service related disability was denied. I didn't push very hard.
I recon' you just have to yell louder once you are Out.

Oh, yes, the statistics of homeless vets is very interesting, especially the socio-economic breakdown of "at risk" veterans.

I sorta knew you would like the numbers(keep you interested) Bubba Deanne :-)
Ya' know,
I'm going to need a Doctor or Nurse practitioner on my New Mexico Collective board,
don't ya'?

A lot of these guys(homeless vets) don't even realize they have benefits,
they have been out of touch that long.
I didn't, till a retired Sargent Major friend insisted I check into it.
I have tried to see the doctors for depression and got even more depressed just waiting and left.
And I've been told I have the patients of a saint.
Must be dozens of folks that just get tired and walk away.
Looks like a lot of them just take their own life's rather than seek out help.

Glad to see you Bubba 420G
Most of these folks are too far north for me to help.

I got your back bro,I hope this thread isn't mistaken for politics

I know you Do and I your's! no fear of that here, You are safe

[thatsbetter]

You will qualify for non-service related disability if you were in the service at least one day during war time. A few years ago I had a mild stroke, but could not afford to go to a doctor. Two weeks after the stroke someone told me that I could go to the VA. I have been receiving my medical services there ever since. The only thing I pay is the $8 for a prescription. By making appointments, I have never had to wait more than 15 minutes past my appointed time.

[DaMagoMan]

I agree, my appointments always go fast.
Got a yearly in the morning :-)
It's when you walk in off the street you end up sitting around.
And don't leave for a smoke or you may have to start all over.

Just like any ER or Walk-in now days, it's gonna be a wait just to get through triage.

[420grower]

.Yes it is true that you must be in during a conflict,I am a combat tested Marine who served from 73-80,so I saw all the changes,which is why I got out,like all services after nam,the Marines made promises they could not fulfill,but V.A.instillations have changed dramatically,very quick sevices,all you need is an appointment,if you are new to the system you may sit awhile filling out paperwork,but I promise you will be served,hell if your feeling depressed the phs. clinics are all walk in,no veteran is turned away,even us violent ones,they have straight jacketed me a few times,haha,but they always did it with respect,nuff said,I love ya Mago,you be safe by brother

[DaMagoMan]

That's why I don't worry Bubba,
I just rather not have to be crazy, yet.

They moved the mental health walk-in about 6 miles from the clinic.
It was there last time I was. Now it's closer to downtown than the clinic.
I did answer yes to the triage depression Q&A
and my doctor did ask if I wanted drugs.
No pharmaceuticals, Thank you.

He pulled no blood, ordered no x-rays(fracture foot over a yr&half ago)
and I had to insist he check my Boyz.
Ones bigger than the other and painful, so it seems to me.
He did order a scan for them but he thought it may just be an infection.
It's like he doesn't want to look so he doesn't find anything wrong with me.
And the Patients Advocate was out of the office till today.

You always find out more in the smoke shack/smoking area than you do inside the clinic.
The Aux VA folks(ones getting grant money) are the ones to go to,
they have direct comms with Regional, from what I hear.

[420grower]

you are correct sir,you really have to be an advocate for yourself,with all the boyz coming back almost all needing care the system is really straighted again,just kkep telling them what you need,make them see you,and consider sitting down with a navy rep and see what he says,I just switched to the paralyzed vets,because the vfw was doing really nothin,good luck bro,stay in touch

[DaMagoMan]

Always Bubba

I also found out, if you have been denied, instead of appealing, do that too
But if you insist on a "review" it gets done in 6-8 months,
where as an appeal can take 2yrs or better(28 - 30 months is the current backlog).