Working World

April 2016

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8 April, 2016 l Working World l WorkingWorld.com N o one tells the young men and women enlisting in the armed forces that there's a good chance they might return, as so many war veterans do, with memories so traumatic and injuries so debilitating that a fierce battle will begin to rage at home—only it won't be anything like their experiences during training or while on the front lines of combat. This one will take place in their own minds, leading them on a harrowing journey through the dark corridors of addiction, homelessness and mental illness. For many soldiers of foreign wars—even those who have served in times of peace—the stark realities of re-entry into civilian life take hold suddenly and unexpectedly, and it is often a long and lonely road filled with the uncertainties many of us take for granted: a safe place to sleep and a decent day's wage. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, of the 578,424 people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. in 2014, 13 percent were war veterans, some of them from the Vietnam era where the number of homeless male and female veterans outnumber soldiers who died during that war. As a navy veteran and housing director for the Southern California-based nonprofit, American Family Housing (AFH), I can attest to the fierce independence of newly returned veterans, as well as the older ones, all of whom have unique needs that the civilian world does not understand. Rather than a handout, most just need a "hand up" to a safe environment, where they are better able to achieve the goal of being independent again. Combat-related physical health issues, substance abuse and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) often serve as invisible barriers to healthy relationships and strong social networks and play a significant role in preventing them from finding jobs and retaining them. In fact, many programs that assist veterans refuse to accept homeless clients until after they have completed treatment programs. It's a Catch-22, considering the fact that approximately 76 percent of homeless veterans experience drug, alcohol, or mental health problems. Even for those fortunate enough to return without visible scars and battlefield nightmares, it's often a struggle to find ways to transfer the skills they learned on the front lines, and housing stability is among the most critical elements necessary to successfully reintegrate into civilian life and find gainful employment. In the three years I have worked with AFH to provide housing to homeless veterans—regardless of whether they are clean and sober or still struggling with addiction or mental illness, I have watched them accomplish goals such as finishing school, securing employment The Road Home How a Job and a Safe Place to Live Can Help End Chronic Veteran Homelessness According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, of the 578,424 people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. in 2014, 13 percent were war veterans, some of them from the Vietnam era where the number of homeless male and female veterans outnumber soldiers who died during that war. by Michael Taylor, housing director, American Family Housing

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