Michelle Obama: More than 58,000 homeless veterans in the U.S. is ‘a stain on our nation’s soul’
(CNN) - First lady Michelle Obama called the number of homeless veterans “a stain on our nation’s soul,” urging local officials to continuing working to fight the problem.
At an event in Washington on Thursday, Mrs. Obama told a packed room, “as Americans, the idea that anyone who has worn our country’s uniform spends their night sleeping on the ground should horrify us. So it’s truly our duty to right this wrong and put an end to veteran homelessness once and for all.”
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Mrs. Obama announced at the annual National Conference on Ending Homelessness that, within the last few weeks, nearly 100 local leaders had pledged to end homelessness by the end of 2015. More than 182 communities around the country have joined the Mayors Challenge to End Veterans Homelessness, including major metropolitan area Los Angeles, Dallas and Miami.
“If your mayor isn’t signed up yet for the mayor’s challenge then light up their phone until they get on board,” she said. “And if you have any questions on whether or not we can get this done I want you to look at the success stories of many of the organizations of communities represented in this room today.”
Mrs. Obama also touted her husband’s administration with initiating the Supportive Services for Veteran Families program last year, which has helped more than 60,000 veterans and their families from becoming homeless, and said she expects the number to grow to 100,000 by the end of next year.
“My husband vowed to put an end to veteran homelessness and over the past five years,” Mrs. Obama said. “He’s cut through red tape, directed record funding to veteran programs and together we made tremendous progress on this issue.”
Ultimately, Mrs. Obama remained hopeful that if the country could tend to its homeless veterans, the initiative would help curb other subsections of the country that are also plagued by homelessness.
“We can see the finish line and if we achieve our goal, if we end homelessness for our veterans, then we’ll show everyone in this country that we can also do it for all those families shuttling from motel to motel. For all those LGBT teens and for every single person experiencing throughout our country that has been this organizations goal since it formed more than a quarter century ago,” the first lady said.
“And today we’re so close to this major milestone for our veterans all we have to do is finish the job.”
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Michelle is so dishonest.........trying to cover up the VA problems her husband did absolutely nothing about........and trying to pretend she cares, just because we have an election coming up in 3 months.
The liars of the Democratic Party are just disgusting.
But instead of helping our Homeless Veterans, Barrack would rather spend BILLIONS on Aiding and Abetting ILLEGAL immigrants.
Republicans don't care. As far as conservatives are concerned, the veterans have become "takers." They should get jobs.
Have to agree with her there.
Six years into office, thousands of trips,vacations, and now the Veterans are important.?
Nice segue from homeless veterans to the LGBT kids.......
And this people is the next Hillary.
Can't wait to see Republicans attack her for this.
As a nation shame on us! This administration will do more for the illegal at the boarders than for its own, Pen and phone President will help them find housing, schooling and a job. We as taxpayers pay for it. I rather have my tax money go to veteran, and their families.
Yes, but to the neocon warhawks and cowboy diplomats, people are disposable tools.
Want to talk about a stain on our nations soul; what about the:
50 million plus people on food stamps.
674,000 people falling off the job rolls in June.
more college graduates living with their parent because they can’t find jobs.
First lady Michelle Obama does not see her husband as the problem, as the failure he is.
She is right. Washington is more concerned with border crashers than Veterans. The way America treats the Men and Women who served it is a public disgrace.
Speaking of stains on the nation's soul...
Then why don't you give some of your ( our money) vacation money to the homeless instead of blowing it!
She makes me want to puke, she is so fake.
@Rudy, how do you sleep at night, or do believe the drivel that you vomit every day?
When the WH wants to change the subject, they will talk about VETERANS, OLD PEOPLE, CHILDREN,
MIchelle, your husband cares more about illegal aliens than homeless veterans. The "stain" is in your own home.
Boy do I love the smell of right wing hate on a beautiful Friday morning!!!😊😊😊
Happy Friday All!!!