Should we be concerned with homeless civilians posing as veterans?

A person in need is still a person, indeed. We can adopt the policy of helping nobody, and the poor vets suffer. Or we can help whomever we can and if we can.

CPT (Join to see) I personally have had similar conversations with civilians posing as ex-military personnel. Most of these grifters are wise to what's a "hot" button topic in the community and are quick to adapt their stories to hit all the right buttons for the naive do-gooders. Terribly sad state of affairs, but it happens. When someone tells me they are a veteran I spend a few minutes with them; most of them realize I'm wise to them when they are not ex-military and quietly walk away. The veterans quickly learn I will help them, but it's on them to participate fully. I also require them to be fully honest with me - anytime I discover the veteran has lied to me I let them know and also inform them that if they are caught in a lie a second time I most likely will not be available to help them in the future.

I respect every veteran and his/her journey - along with the various difficulties they may have been through. However, I am not willing to spend my time and efforts on those who opt to lie to me.

I applaud your efforts for our veterans - I would only suggest you might consider joining with a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) in your efforts. Every VSO has a singular intent to aid fellow veterans after service and might be able to help you focus your efforts and combine them with their own. There is strength in numbers!

No. On the back of the sign they are holding, it reads "Car broke down on the way to get my mother an operation. Any help is appreciated. God Bless." I will offer to take them to the VA regional office and make an appointment to talk to a service officer. I will enjoy a nice sit down lunch with them; my treat. I will take them to the homeless veteran office at the local VA hospital and be their POC while they are in the program. I will not give them money. I am a big meanie.

I didn't vote since none really seem to fit my reaction. I live just outside of Dayton, Ohio and we have a VA Medical Center which has a Homeless Veteran Program. Being that I am a County Veterans Service Officer, I have several professional contacts there, one of whom is the Homeless program manager.
When I come across those claiming to be homeless vets, I simply offer to arrange for transportation to the VA campus and a meeting with a social worker who would be able to provide them housing and assistance. Those that are legitimate are generally extremely grateful; the others... well... not so much!

I think if we accidentally get a homeless person a home, we will all be okay BUT I think we should make sure they are not rewarded for lying about their veteran status.

HUDVASH is a housing voucher program the VA has updated. They pay a certain amount to the landlord. The VA realized that some need a stable home to get clean, sober, compliant with treatment, stay out of jail and get employed. It's hard to get employed if you don't have a address, drivers license, birth certificate or telephone etc... Under the new guidelines many who were previously excluded are now eligible. I googled the training PowerPoint presentation and found all the regional contacts. Here homeless vets can go to the county vet office and get a bus voucher to the VA. There is a homeless outreach coordinator they help them obtain the documents needed to participate. As far as civilians disgracing the uniform to panhandle for money that is
Stolen Valor and some park their fancy car down the block. Not every veteran is fortunate enough to have a home or family to go to and "couch Surf" or live in cars. If HUDVASH is out of vouchers for your area you can work with HUDVASH in another area where vouchers are available. I don't judge how they got that way.

Being a homeless vet for a while I have always seen red when I come across a fake vet be they homeless or not, but it makes matter worse if they are on the street panning for money and giving actual vets a bad name. Many homeless that arent vets are just to damn lazy to work or have found that its easier to milk the system as homeless. Seattle has one of the biggest infestations of homeless and as I was leaving the city had 22000 in the down town area alone and were starting to crack down on all the benefits these yahoo's received to discourage the droves of new ones who arrive every spring.

Civilians posing as homeless veterans make the situation for truly homeless veterans bad. How many folks have seen panhandlers collect money, then get into a high priced vehicle and drive off? Germany has it right: Homelessness is illegal, and panhandlers have to declare their earnings for tax purposes. When a civilian poses as a Veteran and begs for money, it causes doubts about the real Veterans who are truly homeless and in need. Those civilians should be called out and charged with false identity, stolen valor, etc.

My father-in-law always gave "a little something" to every panhandler who approached him. I didn't say anything, but I always felt that he was most likely wasting his money on someone who would probably buy booze with it. However, after my father-in-law died, I found myself taking up his habit, at least when I could. I don't know why.

Sadly, the economy has deteriorated significantly over the past decade (regardless of what politicians may want you to believe) and the need has grown exponentially. Southern California (where I live) is the nation's capital for the homeless, veterans and otherwise, drawn by the moderate climate I suppose.

Likewise, the economy has undermined my capacity for generosity. Charity, after all, begins at home. Indeed, American is no longer the most generous of nations in the world. The government has robbed from the rich to give to the poor and individual charitable giving is dropping. And, inasmuch as the government is an inefficient funnel for charitable giving, the dollars that they take from us arrive at the hands of the needy as mere cents.

Fortunately, although retirement has vastly decreased my disposable income, it has greatly increased my disposable time, and I can be more generous with that. I trust that patients I visit at the VA hospital are veterans, but those on the streets with their hands out most likely don't have DD214s in their pockets even if they are veterans.

If they have a DD-214, I think it would not be a problem but there are benefits that are meant for --- veterans ---;

I meet too many Vietnam and Vietnam-era veterans in real need. Now I cannot attest to if they have criminal charges or some other issue and still, we need any veteran in the streets.