According to the U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development, California has the most homeless veterans by far compared to every other state. In fact, we have nearly three times as many homeless vets as the state with the second most homeless veterans. However, did you know that a total of $160.63 billion or 4.19% of total federal spending has been spent on veteran benefits in the year of 2015? Meanwhile, we spent $609.3 billion or 15.88% of annual national spending on the military. Consider this, there are currently 22 million veterans and about 1.4 million US soldiers in active duty. We place such a high value on those who enlist in the military, and an even higher value for those who have endured through his or her deployment, but why is it when they return many do not find adequate support from the government? 

The VA hospital sets a goal to see patients within 30 days, but more than 25% of these appointments get delayed for more than 60 days. In 2014, 120,000 veterans were left waiting for healthcare. Of these 120,000, at least 40 of them died while waiting for appointments to see a doctor at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system.

We place such a high value on those who enlist in the military and seemingly an even higher value on veterans, but why is it when they return many do not find adequate and effective support from the government? Many of these brave men and women may be initially reluctant to seek help, especially for mental disorders. When they finally request it, we just cast them aside without a second thought. When will we open our eyes to the hundreds of thousands of veterans who are struggling to integrate themselves back into society? 

Please join our cause to bring awareness to the inadequate care for veterans in the United States. The taxpayer money spent on veteran benefits and such is not being used effectively. Not only will a more organized system of veteran care maximize the productivity of the billions of dollars spent on veteran benefits, but it will also bring more veterans off the streets and into the workforce.