Where is the shelter of your arms when homeless veterans wait?

I have done a lot of videos on PTSD. More than half my life has been spent trying to make sure more lives were not lost because of this. Apparently, I have failed miserably considering the suicide rate and attempted suicide rate has gone up every year. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother to try considering how little power I have to do anything about it. Then I look into my husband's eyes and I know why I do it. I almost lost him when he was at his worst with PTSD claiming more and more of him everyday. I know him. I know his character and his story as well as why his life changed so drastically. They all have stories and they all have people who love them. Some cannot stand by their side. Face it. People are all different with different capabilities. When the families are unable to cope, the veteran is sent away. Families fall apart.

This is how some of them end up homeless. Various reasons behind how they end up homeless but for now I want to focus on the PTSD homeless veterans. There is a lot of misunderstanding about PTSD, drugs and alcohol abuse. While AA is a great program and most rehabs work in civilian populations, for too many veterans, the addiction is not the problem. The relief of killing off feelings is. While they turn to drugs and alcohol, they are not addicted to the chemicals. Yes, there are some who are addicted, but we cannot confuse self-medicating with addiction. They use these substances to cope in the same way medication helps them cope.


There was a time when I looked at the homeless the same way most do. I would walk by them as if I had something to fear being near them. I thought they were all crazy and dangerous. My excuse back then was that I was very young and very uninformed. In my early 20's, researching Vietnam and PTSD, my eyes opened to the plight of all homeless people. The homeless veterans tug at my heart more than others. If we cannot take care of the men and women who loved this country so much they were willing to lay down their lives for it, then the rest of the homeless population don't stand much of a chance.

This is one of the videos I did on homeless veterans.
A Homeless Veteran's Day 04:00

The Shelter Of Your Arms, Neil Diamond
In this cold world
No matter where I go
The crowds are all the same

And they among just
Evil in the sand
A face without a name

Nobody gives a hang
For what I say or do
But you
And in the shelter of your arms
I find peace and comfort and care
For I am wanted there

In this cold world
You struggle to survive
And sometimes you can fall

You'd think someone
Would lend a helping hand
They'd sooner see you crawl

But just when life itself
Seems more than I can bear
You're there
And in the shelter of your arms
I find strength and safety and then
I rise and start again

Just give me one good reason
To go on living
To keep on trying
For what, I ask you for what
If not for you
And all your love
To see me through

But just when life itself
Seems more than I can bear
You're there
And in the shelter of your arms
I find strength and safety and then
I rise and start again

http://www.metrolyrics.com/the-shelter-of-your-arms-lyrics-neil-diamond.html

This was the first song on the video. The "shelter of your arms" is the people all across the nation who do care about these men and women. The people who take time to help them instead of just passing by them. It is the shelter workers, organizers of Stand Down operations, founders of charities raising money and awareness for them. There are heroes all across this nation devoting their spare time out of love to help them. They are the ones who are trying to prove this is not such a cold world regarding these veterans as faces without names.

Homeless Veteran



Stand alone these men of honor, in the shadow of a tree. Wonder you why does this man of honor stand alone. Beneath this great old oak tree stands a man who stood when others would not. Clothes tattered, as is his mind torn and shredded as he stands. For this is one that heard his country’s call and he did answer.

How be it then no one hears his plea. This plea is not spoken, for his pride is greater than his hunger. He seeks not a hand out, nor does he fell sorry for himself. The demons prevent his sleep, his tormented soul sleeps on the ground. The leaves from the great oak tree are his pillow. The news from yesterday covers him as if a blanket.

Yet people walk by, no offer of help is made, just a scowl and a turn of the head. Uttering words as they pass by but not loud enough for his ears to hear it. Cruel and harsh are these that have never served. Yet enjoy they do the freedom, and fortune purchased by the blood of these men of honor. These that heard their country’s call with no regard for life or limb. And for this he is called, hopeless and a bum.

Thought of as an eyesore, blight on the beauty of their city. But I tell thee this that he is a hero. For this man of honor be not lazy nor is he hopeless, or a bum. His demons may have damaged the mind. But not the soul, his heart still beats with love of God and Country. Yet his name is added to that list of honored names. Which is called the homeless veteran, and by our shame it does exist
http://cid-da23f28644faeb2d.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DA23F28644FAEB2D!1605.entry

Just a few more alerts for today.

ALA Legislative Newsletter: Issue 15

By Lady J USA(Lady J USA) The House passed HR 3329, the Homes for Heroes Act, which will provide shelter for homeless veterans and their families and help prevent very low-income veteran families from falling into homelessness.

Top 10 Hot Spot Veterans News from Around the Country - 07-17-08

Continuing Coverage Of VA Suicide Prevention Hotline Advertising. Texas VAMC Nurse Profiled. Controversy Surrounds Proposed Vermont Homeless Veterans Shelter.

Combat to Community: Needs & Resources for Post-911 Veterans and ...

By Iraq Veteran Project It took an average of 9 years post deployment for Vietnam veterans to fall into homelessness. Today, Swords to Plowshares and our homeless veteran service colleagues throughout the nation are seeing an alarming influx of homeless veterans.

Soldier On gets grant for beds

The Republican - MassLive.com - Springfield,MA,USAPeake said the grants will collectively add 1000 transitional housing beds to 9400 beds currently available for homeless veterans through Veterans Affairs.

Nassau unveils plan to end homelessness in 10 years

Newsday - Long Island,NY,USAThe plan calls for targeting veterans at risk as they're discharged, offering services before they become homeless.

OCEANSIDE: Complex opens for homeless veterans

North County Times - Escondido,CA,USAOn Wednesday, city and community leaders celebrated the opening of Interfaith's homeless veterans housing project during a ceremony held across the street

Federal money helps house Columbia’s homeless veteran population

Columbia Missourian - Columbia,MO,USABy JOSHUA BARTON COLUMBIA — New beginnings for Columbia’s homeless veteran population have arrived with a set of brand new door keys.

VA program boosts funds for homeless veterans in Longview

Longview Daily News - Longview,WA,USA By The Daily News Some homeless veterans in Longview will get a place to sleep under a Department of Veterans Affairs program,

What are you doing in your community? Are you doing anything? Are you still walking by them as if they have no right to be there? Do you understand how they got where they are? This is your chance to grow up and stop treating them the way you do and start asking yourself what if the man sleeping in the park saved the life of someone you loved in war, or was willing to risk his life when the country needed him. Maybe if you see the homeless veterans through different eyes, you can see all homeless people through the eyes of love as well.



Senior Chaplain Kathie Costos
Namguardianangel@aol.com
www.Namguardianangel.org
www.Woundedtimes.blogspot.com
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington