U.S.
(2009-11-03)
U.S. soldier runs down a slope during a joint foot patrol with Canadian and Afghan National Army in Arghandab district, Kandahar
Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki is promising help for homeless veterans.
Shinseki is speaking to 1,200 homeless service providers at a Washington conference. He says the VA will spend $3.2 billion next year on the problem.
It is estimated that 130,000 veterans may be homeless on a typical night in America. About one-third of all adult homeless men and nearly one-fifth of all homeless adults served in the military.
About 3 percent of the overall homeless population served in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Due to the economy, the VA says the number of homeless vets may increase up to 15 percent over the next five years. © Copyright 2009, Associated Press
