Soldier On Helps Homeless Veterans
Nov 9, 2009 06:35 PM EST
By Ray Hershel
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (abc40)-- Homelessness is a major problem among veterans.
On any given night there are some 130-thousand homeless veterans across the country.
One local group is working to make sure that no veteran who served our country should end up on the street.
"Soldier On" is dedicated to helping homeless veterans. At their transitional facility at the V-A Medical Center in Northampton there are some 183 veterans who are receiving help rather than ending up on the street.
John Downing is the President and CEO of "Soldier On", "It's a very serious problem, veterans still appear two to three times more homeless than any other group in our society."
One of the veterans getting help is Dominic Taverna who served two combat tours with the U.S. Army in Iraq, "The war is hard, but you face the second war when you get home."
Taverna says he's found a home at the "Soldier On" facility at the V-A Medical Center.
And John Downing says a permanent solution is needed, "We haven't implemented a final solution to homelessness which is some type of affordable housing with sustainable energy costs and services attached to housing."