WE DON’T EXPECT YOU TO PRESS LIKE BUT SHARE THIS CANADA! The sad truth in Canada. One Veteran waking up homeless is tragic, thousands waking up homeless in this country is a disgrace.
The number of homeless veterans in Canada “could be thousands” >http://bit.ly/1pyO6b4 – “The number of homeless veterans in Canada identified by Veterans Affairs has skyrocketed over the last five years, jumping from just 35 in 2009-2010 to 236 last year. But the true figure could be much higher. Experts suggest there could be thousands of veterans living on the streets yet to be located by government and volunteer organizations. A City of Toronto report released last year revealed that 16 per cent of the 447 people sleeping on Toronto’s streets identified themselves as Canadian veterans.” Ipolitics
Suicide claims more Canadian soldiers than those killed in Afghan war >http://on.thestar.com/1qds0JO
Stephen Harper refused to acknowledge questions on the federal Canadian Veterans funeral fund named ‘The Last Post Fund” for poor, impoverished and homeless veterans to get a respectable, proper Canadian burial. Out of 29,853 requests for assistance, 67 per cent of applications from Veterans families, funeral directors and community members since 2006 have been rejected by the Harper government. Families of nearly 2,000 poor and homeless veterans a year are being turned away by the government to help them with funeral expenses. http://bit.ly/1uug2T3, http://bit.ly/1pZZsL5
Those working with homeless veterans say they need more volunteers, more housing http://bit.ly/1EKLeke
Homeless veterans ‘failed’ by Harper conservative government, says soup kitchen director >http://bit.ly/1sNWFiC
“Ottawa is abandoning its former soldiers, leaving them to languish on the streets, despite repeated warnings that many desperately need help, says the country’s veterans ombudsman.” http://bit.ly/1w697RE
“Col. Stogran predicts a surge in the number of homeless veterans. “They’re coming out of the woodwork now. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” said the colonel, who in June of 2008 started the Leave Nobody Behind campaign to raise awareness of homeless vets. “Every single person we send overseas, whether it’s to someone else’s war or to pick up body parts in Haiti, they all come back changed people.” http://bit.ly/1Dyw3de
Do you know a homeless vet who needs help? Help them, feed them, cloth them, talk to them, you can Contact 1-866-522-2122 (English) or 1-866-522-2022 (French) so that emergency funding and a certified case manager can be assigned. http://bit.ly/127RJ2u
New smartphone app aims to get Canada’s homeless veterans off the streets >http://bit.ly/1orZmel
“VETS Canada, a not-for-profit group that provides emergency services to transient and homeless veterans, released an app that allows people to report at-risk or homeless veterans. The app, called VETS Canada, is available for both iPhone and Android devices. It allows users to complete a form with the veteran’s name, service number and, with permission, to take a photo of the person. There is also a menu to select whether the individual is at risk of being homeless, homeless or living in a shelter.”
Volunteer, donate @ http://vetscanada.org/
http://www.woundedwarriors.ca/
http://canadianveteransadvocacy.ca/pennies.html
Suicide claims more Canadian soldiers than those killed in Afghan war >http://on.thestar.com/1qds0JO
“The latest statistics from the defence department reveal 160 personnel have committed suicide between 2004 and March 31, 2014. That compares to the 138 soldiers killed in combat between 2002 and 2014, when Canada’s Afghan mission formally ended.” -Toronto Star
PTSD/SUICIDE PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR OUR CANADIAN MILITARY CUT BY HARPER GOVERNMENT “The Conservative government ..cut the jobs of Department of National Defence medical professionals involved in suicide prevention and monitoring of post-traumatic stress disorders, even as the number of suicides in the Canadian Forces has increased. >>http://bit.ly/1g1joFk -National Post
“DND’s Deployment Health Section is being shut down, cutting four jobs, including those of suicide prevention specialists. The employees also monitor PTSD rates and traumatic brain injury. Eight of the 18 jobs in DND’s epidemiology section also will be cut. Those include epidemiologists and researchers who analyze mental health issues such as depression, PTSD, and suicide.” http://bit.ly/1yISrBv -National Post
This isn’t just happening to the men and women who proudly serve our country.
Harper conservatives cut Aboriginal youth suicide prevention >http://bit.ly/1BKVqWk
Harper’s disregard for aboriginal health
http://bit.ly/1ngyXiz
“Founded in 2000, NAHO oversaw many research and outreach programs, in crucial fields such as suicide prevention. It collected an invaluable series of audio and video interviews with elders recounting traditional tales and knowledge. The group also published the Journal of Aboriginal Health and was home to one of the best collections of aboriginal health research in the world.”
Cartoonist Credit: Rob Rogers, Post Gazette, source: http://bit.ly/1sNZ2li
