A Non-Profit CEO Says That Veteran Homelessness Is “An Embarrassment” To The Country

(PatriotPostNews.com) — The leader of a nonprofit dedicated to veterans recently spoke out against the growing issue of veteran homelessness and presented a plan to solve the problem.

Jim Whaley, a retired lieutenant colonel for the United States Army, is the CEO of Mission Roll Call. The nonprofit organization strives to help veterans through a variety of issues, including post-military life transitions, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and homelessness.

The federal government’s Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that 40,056 veterans do not have a roof over their heads on a given night. Up to 13% of America’s homeless citizens are veterans. Mission Roll Call has collected data to gauge veteran opinions on various policy issues. A recent poll revealed that over 90% of veterans believe that more needs to be done to “address veteran homelessness.”

Whaley—who has earned multiple medals for his service, including the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Air Assault Badge—described the thousands of homeless veterans in America as “staggering” and “embarrassing,” adding that the issue “needs to be addressed.”

The retired soldier explained that the problem must “start from the beginning,” which would be an acknowledgement of the reality that 24% of current, active military members “have food insecurity issues.” Whaley added that this statistic shows that the country is “not paying” adequate and “necessary salaries” to active-duty and junior enlisted members of the military.

While the department for Veterans Affairs has provided housing to 46,000 veterans in 2023 alone, Mission Roll Call exists to address the needs of those who were left in the lurch by government assistance programs.

Last year, according to statistics released by the HUD, the number of homeless veterans increased by 7.4% compared to those who were without shelter in 2022. That report also noted that overall veteran homelessness is decreasing, having lessened by 52% since 2010 and 4% in the last three years.