Help is a must for homeless veterans

Homelessness is an ugly stain that stubbornly resists removal from the American landscape.

Each case of homelessness is a human tragedy, and somehow the misfortune seems magnified when those who have served in the nation's armed forces find themselves living on the streets. That is occurring with alarming frequency.

A new report from the National Alliance to End Homelessness shows that veterans, who make up only 11 percent of the U.S. population as a whole, accounted for one-fourth of the country's roughly 750,000 homeless in 2005. On any given night, an estimated 200,000 veterans are without permanent shelter.

Those most familiar with problems facing veterans expect the number to rise. They learned, in the years after the Vietnam War ended, that many veterans began to encounter problems leading to homelessness only after they had been back in the United States for several years.

Referring to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, one Veterans Affairs director in Pennsylvania told the Associated Press, "We're going to have a tsunami of them (homeless veterans) eventually because the mental health toll from this war is enormous."

Indeed, 45 percent of those who participate in VA homeless programs suffer from mental illness. Seventy-five percent battle substance abuse. More than one-third are trying to cope with both mental illness and substance abuse problems.

What's to be done?

Steps have been taken here and there locally. For instance, the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans, in Wheaton, has been serving residents and would like to expand.

The new national report coincides with the Blagojevich administration's ribbon-cutting of a downstate facility and pilot program that could serve as a model.

Called the Prince Home and located in Manteno, the new facility will aid disabled and homeless disabled Illinois veterans.

The home will not only provide housing to as many as 15 veterans at a time. It also will be staffed by a director, caseworker, two addiction counselors and a psychiatric nurse who will provide therapy and serve as advocates for the home's residents.

The Manteno facility is being funded by a combination of state and federal grants. Once it is fully operational, Prince House should be watched closely, and if it succeeds, it should be duplicated elsewhere.

Obviously, finding the financial resources to build, staff and maintain such facilities will be a challenge -- but one that should be conquered. A nation that takes justifiable pride in the service and sacrifice of its soldiers has the most solemn of obligations to offer support in every way possible when these veterans encounter serious problems after serving.