Topic > A Study of the Rise of Homelessness in the Veteran Population

The issue of homelessness has been a basis for national discussions over time. In fact, it has been considered very controversial ever since the Napoleonic War took place (Literature Review: UK Veterans and the Homeless. 2017). Currently, the media is flooded with reports of veterans finding themselves in dire situations because they don't have a roof over them. This concerns in particular the wars that took place in Iraq and Afghanistan and which consequently led to a relatively renewed attention to the needs of veterans (Perl, 2015). Due to the growing number of veterans from these wars, there is also strong concern that the number of homeless people among this population may increase further. In addition to recent conflicts, other homeless veterans have served in World War II, the Cold War, Panama and military efforts against drug cultivation in South America. It is on this basis, then, that the following article will discuss homelessness among veteran populations. It will mention the reasons that qualify it as a social problem, its elements and solutions and finally the role of a MSW (master of social work) in addressing the problem. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay Homelessness among veterans is a considerable social problem because the current US society has witnessed their increase in numbers in the recent past. In fact, in 2012, the homeless veteran population was believed to represent approximately 11% of the entire homeless population in America. The social problem has been brought to increasingly serious levels by the increasing number of veterans returning home, particularly from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as already mentioned above. For example, in 2010, research showed that there were nearly seventy-six thousand homeless veterans, most of whom were sleeping in transition homes, streets, abandoned buildings, and even emergency locations. It is evident that the plight of homeless veterans makes them a considerable social problem that needs to be addressed by the government. Several elements comprise homelessness among veterans. Wenzel et al., (1993) mention that one of the main reasons is the fact that they do not have any permanent form of housing under their control. It is for this reason that they live in the places described above. Homeless veterans can be classified into two categories: street homeless and chronically homeless. The first element, the street homeless, are veterans who, in most cases, spend most of their time on the streets. Chronically homeless veterans, however, are those who have been disabled during conflicts and have been consistently homeless for periods lasting more than a year. Furthermore, McGuire (2007) notes that a larger percentage of these veterans are males who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Another vital element of this social problem is that 56% of this population includes African Americans or Hispanic communities. And this despite the fact that these are the minority communities of the United States. Ending veteran homelessness should be a priority for the U.S. government. The latter can achieve this objective thanks to the vital contribution of the Department of Veterans Affairs which has been entrusted with their management. Some of the ways that can be used to address this issue include allocating federal investments based on the needs of homeless veterans. The second assignment.