The National Conference of Viet Nam Veteran Ministers, an organization composed of clergy who served in Viet Nam, meeting in Lantana, Florida, on October 26th through 30th, 1994, issued the following statement concerning the issue of homelessness and the Veteran community:
Recent estimates by the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans as well as the Department of Veterans Affairs place the number of homeless veterans at or above 250,000, or one-third the total of the homeless population. That so large a percentage of the homeless are veterans and the families of veterans is a national disgrace.
We call upon the VA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to cooperate in providing funding to existing non-profit shelters that target the veteran community, and to cooperate in developing new ways to reach out to homeless veterans.
We call upon our nation's legislative leaders to provide the funding necessary to implement a comprehensive and accessible Veterans Housing Program and to hold the DVA and HUD accountable for the success of that program.
Return to Peace and Justice Statements.