According to the TERRIFIC U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website there are 1264 VA Facilities in the USA. My state, Ohio, has 2 National Cemetaries, 1 Regional office, 6 Vet Centers, 29 community Based Outpatient Clinics, 2 Outpatient Clinics, 5 VA Medical Centers and 1 Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) which serves veterans in Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeastern Indiana. From the DVA website a Veteran can access information about the facilities available, types of services and special programs available, hours of operation, phone numbers, shuttle service schedule, driving directions, a Veteran can even apply online for VA Services, and so much more I couldn't possibly give you a complete list.
If it is true, that half of our homeless people are Veterans that is a huge shame on us. I wonder if these homeless Veterans could even access the DVA website? You have to be registered to use the computers at my local Library, and when you register, you have to prove residency. How could a homeless Veteran learn where to go for help if he was not welcome at the Library?
In a report dated March 6, 2007, NPR's Melissa Block talks with Bobby Muller, the President of Veterans for America, who tells about the bureaucracy a wounded veteran faces trying to navigate the two systems.
Personally, I don't believe bureaucracy is the only thing too blame for the failures at Walter Reed Hospital (A Dept. of Defense facility). Is Walter Reed another example of Katrina thinking? conservatives just don't like spending tax dollars on the little guy. Also, some of the maintenance problems at Walter Reed could be a result of a readiness relaxation that set in after it was announced the hospital would be closed. Like when you look down at your tennis shoes and see how old and run down they have become and decide to buy a new pair next payday. Maybe you won't keep up the old pair so much after that.
NPR has a web page devoted to the issue. You can listen to reports dating back to Feb. 23, 2007
From the Washington Post, I agree with Sen. Patty Murray D-WA, who "said that she is worried that the Dole-Shalala commission's findings will be ignored by a president that has pushed aside the recommendations of previous bipartisan panels, such as the Iraq Study Group." reported by Josh White.
