ONE-THIRD OF HOMELESS ARE VETERANS, VA SAYS

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, one-third of the nation's
homeless -- 250,000 -- are men or women who served their country. They
might be black or white, from small towns or big cities. Some never saw
combat, while others walk the streets with battle scars from Vietnam or
even World War II.

They mirror the general homeless population at large: Some 40 percent have
mental illness while just over 50 percent have alcohol or substance-abuse
problems. Overall, 98 percent are men.

At least 10 percent are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, a
reaction to combat that drives some to a self-destructive spiral of drug
abuse and anti-social behavior.

These conditions make helping the veterans all the more difficult,
according to Pete Dougherty, who manages the nation's homeless-assistance
programs for Veterans Affairs.

`It's not like breaking your leg, where it's fairly easy to repair,''
Dougherty said. ``Even with your best effort, the first attempt is not
always successful.''