Bill O’Reilly of Fox News Channel claims there are 150,000 beds available to the 195,000 homeless veterans living on our streets. If that were true, there would be no problem. There may be 150,000 beds available for the entire homeless population, which is approximately 800,000.
I wonder if he thinks the Vietnam and first Gulf War veterans have been treated fairly by our government and its agencies. They represent about 60 percent of the present homeless population and, sadly, they are being joined by some Iraq and Afghanistan veterans returning from the battlefield.
It is a sad statistic to report that many of our homeless are living under our bridges, in our sewers and in the desert here as well as in many other states.
Yes, many are mentally ill or drug and alcohol addicted, but economics is also a factor for far too many. I am glad Sen. John Edwards raised this issue in his presidential campaign. He did homeless veterans as well as the whole homeless population a service.
I wish Bill O’Reilly would correct his reporting error and make a true effort to find and help homeless veterans.
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