Veterans Day

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans estimate that 23% of homeless population are veterans. In Montana this percentage is higher. Each year, 2.3 million to 3.5 million people experience homelessness in America. By taking 23% of that range for veterans, that would indicate there are between 529,000 and 840,000 veterans who are homeless at some time during the year.
Other statistics about homeless veterans are:
15% are pre Vietnam Era
47% are Vietnam Era
17% are post Vietnam Era
Only 25% have used VA Homeless Services
67% served three or more years
33% stationed in war zone
85% completed high school/GED compared to 56% of non-veterans
89% received Honorable Discharge
76% experience alcohol, drug, or mental health problems46% white males compared to 34% non-veterans
46% age 45 or older compared to 20% non-veterans
Service needs:
45% help finding job
37% finding housing
These are staggering numbers so let’s break it down as to how this problem exists in the Flathead Valley.
Through collaboration with the regional VA at Ft Harrison, Samaritan House is able to offer a vital connection to the specialized care that is necessary to make a positive change in some of these situations. We call it our Homeless Veterans Program.
On any given day we typically have up to ten homeless veterans at the Samaritan House and usually three or four of them are fully enrolled in our Homeless Veterans Program.
Our homeless veterans are offered a case manager, goals are set with daily follow up to monitor progress. Most are newly sober and possibly even wrestling with some sort of PTSD or mental health issue. These are all special situations that demand special answers.
Let's consider a few of the homeless veterans who were recently at the Samaritan House. Mike, who tells of being stabbed by a Vietnamese bayonet collapsing one of his lungs. Roger, who is disabled with PTSD unable to work but barely able to make it on his current disability income. James, a cancer survivor secondary to being exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam. Eric signed up and went to Desert Storm because he was “looking for a fight.” He returned to find that his wife and daughter had gone back to live with her parents. His divorce papers were served here at the shelter. I could go on.
Thank you to all veterans including those we know here at the Samaritan House for your service and your dedication to our country.