What is your personal response to homeless Veterans?

sad but some times inevitable in a country who does not take care of it's veterans or it's mental health patients. It also should figure out it's war on drugs hurts on it'sown people and not the low lever users or dealers.

I do not give money, I will give you food and I will bring you to the people that can help. http://www.va.gov/homeless/

We've got people who are brazen enough to put on a uniform and pose as veterans. It's not out of the realm of possibilities that homeless people use a similar tactic. Honestly, the only way to know if a veteran is homeless is to see them emerge from a VA homeless shelter. I do what I can to help, but hate handing out money. It's too easy to buy drugs or alcohol and I'd rather give food and water to help someone out.

I ask them if they are enrolled at the local VA and if they say no I tell them to hop in and I will take you to the Homeless Veteran Coordinator to get them help. If they say yes I will ask them what help they have been given and if they are having issues with the VA they need help with.

I usually give to charity for homeless in general, veteran or not. Sandwiches, to water, to food donations.

My first response is to normally vet the veteran. I enjoy talking with veterans whether homeless, retired, wounded, or otherwise served. I can usually tell in a couple of questions whether a guy actually served or playing a role. I've bought meals and given money to homeless both vets and non vet homeless. I just don't people pretending to be vets who aren't. We all may need help at some point our lives.

In my experience, very few legitimate veterans are truly "homeless" but I suppose it varies by why you live and where you look. Of course, some who claim to be "veterans" didn't finish basic training and have no benefits as a result. Some veterans do have mental or other issues that render them so; however, many people help get them to the VA and they do find housing-yet, some choose to return to the streets. I've not yet found one begging nearby who was legitimate--some claimed "VA would not give them an ID Card"--but couldn't answer basic military questions. They wanted money, not water, not food, not housing. We will of course, gladly help any legitimate vet get help.

I don't give money either. For safety reasons. I do give my time to help out when I can. What I find confusing is I see these veterans at the VA hospital I go to. Can the VA help them?