Caring for Those Who Served: A Look at Veterans' Challenges

Veterans in the U. S. face many struggles after leaving the military. These challenges include finding jobs, having a place to live, and dealing with mental health issues. The country has made some progress, but there's still a lot to do. The government has asked for more money to help veterans. They want $441. 3 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2026. This is a big increase, but there are still not enough people working at the VA. They plan to cut about 30, 000 jobs, which could make things harder. Veterans are part of the community and care about what's happening in the country. They vote and pay attention to politics. In 2024, they voted in the presidential and congressional elections. There are about 18 million veterans in the U. S. , which is about 6% of adults. Jobs are one area where veterans are doing better than the general population. The unemployment rate for veterans is lower than the national average. In Pennsylvania, there are about 656, 000 veterans, and their unemployment rate is even lower at 2. 6%. Homelessness among veterans has gone down since 2009, but it's still a problem. In 2024, about 32, 882 veterans were homeless. Many of them don't have a safe place to stay. In Pennsylvania, veterans make up 5. 1% of the homeless population. The most worrying issue is suicide. Veterans are more likely to die by suicide than people who didn't serve. Young veterans, especially those who served after the Gulf War, have the highest rates. Mental health and substance abuse are big factors. The government is trying to do more to prevent suicides, but it's still a serious problem. While veterans are honored on Veterans Day with parades and free meals, they need support all year round. The country must keep its promise to take care of those who served. This means helping them find jobs, homes, and mental health care. Veterans have given a lot to the country, and it's time to give back.