Letters to the Next President: Help Homeless Vets

Leading up the inauguration, the California Report magazine is airing letters from California teenagers to the incoming president. They're some of the more than 12.000 letters collected as part of a collaboration between KQED and the National Writing Project. You can search all the letters by topic here. 

This week, we're featuring a letter from Natalie, an 8th grader at  Diablo Vista Middle School in Danville, CA.

Dear Future President,

It is a shame that the people that protected us, aren’t being protected. Today 8.6 percent of United States veterans are homeless, and our country seems to do nothing about it.

If your brother risked his life for this country, suffered from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because of it, and then received no help from anyone when he needed it the most, wouldn’t you feel that was unfair?

Whether male or female, no matter what branch of the military they served in, veterans deserve our appreciation. Each one was willing to give their life in exchange for our freedom.

Between 130,000-200,000 veterans are homeless any night in America. Shouldn’t we have some compassion? Shouldn’t there be measures the government takes to make sure they can stand on their own two feet?

As the daughter of former Army captain, I believe every American should have compassion for those who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. So, let’s do more than just sit around and let it happen. Let’s make a difference.

Sincerely, Natalie