1) Unemployment. Many disabled veterans are unable to find solid work once they return home. This has always been the key pin for me. Veterans need to work and be paid enough to keep poverty and homelessness at bay. It is vital to their psychological and emotional health. It is primarily the reason for all the other issues facing them, apart from physical injuries which plague many veterans everyday of their lives.
HirePatriots offers a Careers job board exclusively for US veterans. The jobs posted there are companies looking specifically to fill them with veterans. And if you find a job, we will be glad to act as advocates and contact the companies HR department with our recommendation.
We also offer an exclusive Day by Day job board for US veterans, These are jobs posted by local residents and businesses that want extra help for a day or more. If your community does not have one, we will build it for them, and send posters and fliers to spread the word. Here is what civilians and veterans here in San Diego say about the importance of this site: https://hirepatriots.com/testimonials.
2) Homelessness. Approximately one third of all homeless Americans are veterans. The economy is currently strong and there is a low unemployment rate. But among many veterans staying employed is difficult. Having to deal with civilians can become a challenge for veterans who are used to a very structured system with hard S.O.P’s to obey. The chaos of the civilian world is not something they are accustomed too. Also, they may experience traumatic memories and struggle with extreme chronic pain.
Veteran Homelessness is a tragedy we see every day that our citizenry about which our citizens should be more concerned and committed to ending. Patriotic Hearts, our US veteran NPO, provides careers, day jobs, retreats, and easy business opportunities to help reduce veteran homelessness.
3) Poor Mental Health. Unfortunately, suicide and depression rates remain high among members of the armed forces. Approximately one third of all
homeless Americans are veterans experience poor Mental Health. Veterans who have experienced trauma in war and combat might suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and suicidal thoughts.
4) Physical Injuries. Few escape from live combat without any injuries. War is a machine that churns human bodies, and kills, maims, and handicaps many involved. I have had the honor of making friends with thousands of these men and women. They are the primary impetus for all I do.
5) Lack of Education: This is the fault of our US military and our Education system and certification systems. Many of the young men and women enter the military not for war, but for education. Yet many of the tasks that require training and a certain amount of expertise are not associated with any degrees or certifications in Project management and various OSHA trades. Our Government and our US Military must address this issue. All veterans should be walking into a job for which they are trained and with an equitable salary commiserate with their years of military service.
All of these questions are dealt with in greater detail in my best selling book, An America Crisis: Veteran Unemployment.
Mark Baird
