Sen. Murray to do more for vets on streets

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., held a Thursday round-table in Seattle to spotlight the plight of the nation's homeless veterans, including an estimated 1,500 men and women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and have foundered since leaving the service.

Many of these veterans are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental problems that can trigger alcohol and drug abuse, according to homeless advocates who spoke Thursday. They said that these homeless veterans needed treatment programs to get off the streets.

"If we work with the mental-health issues, we believe that most of the other problems will go away," said Raymond Miller of the National Association of Black Veterans. "... Folks who are coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq, they need those treatments right now — not 30 years from now."

The meeting was held at a recently opened Plymouth Housing Group apartment complex on Third Avenue that includes 20 units set aside for homeless veterans. These units are part of a stepped-up effort by the state, King County, Seattle and nonprofits to tackle the problems of homeless veterans.

But the problem remains serious. King County has an estimated 1,200 homeless veterans on any night. It is unclear how many are recent veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan.

But the King County Veterans Program, which offers housing, counseling, job and other services, says about 4 to 5 percent of its clientele served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Murray has been an advocate for increased funding for veterans and program innovations.

She praised the current veterans outreach in King County, but said she is seeking ways to improve federal efforts.

"So many great things going on here, why the heck are there still so many people on the streets?" Murray said. "What are we missing, and what should we be doing better?"