Progress To Ending Veteran Homelessness Faces Hurdles

Federal funding needed to boost gains in stabilizing lives of servicemen and women

It’s safe to say that most Americans think it's unacceptable for veterans of any American wars return home and end up on the streets. There’s good news on that front -- an upcoming report by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is expected to show the number of homeless veterans has decreased by a record 15,000 since 2009. The drop is the result of an aggressive two-pronged strategy to house vets and prevent new ones from ending up homeless. VA secretary Eric Shinseki promised to end homelessness by 2015, but officials and experts say more is needed to meet that goal. The current, record annual progress would need to double, they say. Billions more in federal dollars is needed, along with improvements to programs that address mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction, unemployment and poverty. (Associated Press)

[ALSO READ: How Obama Handles the Wars and Treats Vets]

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