Nicholson to veterans, you're no different than the rest of the citizens

Nearly $2 billion has been budgeted for homeless veterans’ health care, but $1 billion is earmarked for faith-based programs, such as that operated by the Volunteers of America, to provide per-diem assistance to veterans suffering from addiction and mental disease, Nicholson said.

Half the money went to "faith base" programs instead of the VA programs and shelters already operating for all veterans without any strings attached.

“We’re aware of the influx of homeless veterans here and (are aware of the need for) making more resources available for medical and grant per-diem programs,” Nicholson said. “And we’re constantly looking for good, faith-based sponsors here like the VOA.”

And are they supporting the shelters that operated all over the country? No they are looking for more "faith based" ones to give money to. Nicholson seems proud of this instead of ashamed that the money has not gone to fund the VA but faith base groups.

Veterans vent to VA leader
Homelessness, few resources are big issues

By SAMUEL IRWIN
Special to The Advocate
Published: Sep 9, 2007 - Page: 5B

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U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson heard praise, complaints and suggestions Saturday from homeless military veterans while touring the Baton Rouge Volunteers of America nine-bed transitional housing facility on West Garfield Avenue.

Nicholson visited with the veterans in the parlor of the old Odd Fellows Lodge a few blocks away from Magnolia Mound Plantation and the LSU campus.

“We (the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) are the agents of a grateful society grateful for people who put on the uniform,” Nicholson said. “But we have challenges to take care of the many living veterans who are no different from the rest of the citizens of our country. We have veterans who have problems.”

This is the other part that made me lose my dinner. Nicholson told this group of homeless veterans, they are no different than that rest of the citizens in this country. No different! No different! Is he out of his mind? I wonder how they avoided beating the crap out of him to show him how very different they are?
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