As I scrolled through Facebook, I saw an astounding number of posts calling to help our nation's outlandish number of homeless veterans. I agree, it is shameful we allow those who have served our nation to go without. Then, I got angry. I got the kind of angry that makes my blood boil and my hands shake. I saw posts that we shouldn't offer any refugees help before we help our own. We have to fix this homeless problem first! I am angry because the only time I see these posts is when it's helpful to defend a political stance. Where were these people when these veterans couldn't afford the psychiatric care they needed? Where were they when vets couldn't receive the care they needed because the services weren't covered in their healthcare plan? Where was the outrage then?

Up until the recent controversy, most were silent. I didn't see any of these posts. How often do you walk or drive past a homeless person and simply assume the worst about them? I didn't see anyone opening up the conversation about suicide rates in veterans. In fact, I still don't hear anyone talking about why veterans are homeless. I certainly haven't seen anyone offering helpful suggestions. There is no way to solve homelessness until we talk about the underlying issues.

Maybe we don't talk about it enough because it's hard. It is a hard conversation to have. Many veterans return home with mental illness. Many homeless veterans suffer from substance abuse. We will not solve the issue, unless we talk about what is really happening. Please, stop using homeless veterans to fuel your political agenda. Please, start doing something real.

It is not enough to only care when it's convenient.

http://www.endhomelessness.org/

http://www.neveranotherhomelessveteran.org/site