VETS BEFORE ILLEGALS

Focus on Housing Homeless Veterans

Is anyone horrified at learning that we are paying up to $700/night to house illegals in hotels most of us would never be able to afford?  We are paying for food, housing, medical care, transportation…literally anything these law-breakers want, while they contribute nothing to our country.  Most can’t speak English, have poor or no job skills and are simply here for the free lunch.  Some are terrorists, gang members or drug cartel types.

Meanwhile, we can see homeless veterans—people who served our country and risked their health and lives for us—begging on the streets.  Suicide is increasing in the veteran population.  While great agencies like Tunnels2Towers and Gary Sinise’s foundation try to help these wounded warriors, there simply isn’t enough money to help them all.  The government does almost nothing for homeless veterans, while rolling out a red carpet for law-breakers.

Can’t we all agree this makes no sense?

When I worked in San Francisco, I would get off BART and see homeless vets begging.  You could see the shame they felt at having to do this, even as they were disabled and probably unable to find a job.  One guy in a wheelchair really brought the issue home to me.  He was friendly and greeted everyone, even as many ignored him. Realizing that he was a good guy in a bad situation, I would occasionally give him money.  Even when I didn’t, he remained friendly.  It hurt me to see him like this, but I didn’t know what to do.

More recently I became an ETS sponsor, where I can help military men and women who are leaving the service and seeking out help to find jobs, housing, school and to learn how to use the VA services.  Without this help, some might kill themselves and others might become homeless. And yet, most of these proud vets don’t take advantage of this service.  Their pride tells them they can do it on their own. 

This is simply not good enough.  The tax money wasted on illegals should be redirected as grants to local agencies to help veterans proactively.  Perhaps, pay their first few months rent where they relocate.  Give them job search services.  More than most of us, they have paid their dues and ensured our freedom.  They deserve a soft landing when they leave the service.  Those who are injured or suffer mental health issues should be automatically enrolled in the VA.  VA professionals should then reach out to give them appointments so they can be evaluated and proper care ensured for them.

Of course, this costs money, but somehow, we have money aplenty to provide high-end services to illegals, but not for vets.  Let’s flip this puppy around.  I believe if we stopped giving ANY aid to illegals, the flood would dry up very fast.  You might get a few, but those would be the kind we might accept; people who will come with skills and English to work in a country where their hard work might reap better rewards than in their country. I’d rather we have no illegals, but I’d take those who come to work hard, not to take handouts.

Then, there would be more funding for veterans to provide the services I mentioned.  Ignore the demands from Blue cities and states for federal aid for illegals.  Protect our Red states from this invasion and allow us to ignore those who cross our border.  Thirsty?  Too bad.  We have nothing for you.  We won’t do a thing for those who demand entrance without going through our legal process.

Let’s go “all in” for our veterans.