Secretary Eric Shinseki Addresses Conference

Veterans Administration Secretary Eric Shinseki addressed the Military Relations forum at the 50th Anniversary of Statehood Conference at the Hawaii Convention Center. Secretary Shinseki indicated that the Department of Veterans Affairs is committed to insuring that the estimated 131,000 homeless veteran will be off the streets in the next five years.

"You see, to get to zero, we have to attack the entire cycle of downward spirals that end in homelessness -- the last step in the loss of hope. We can't solve it at the state or national levels, unless we attack jobs and education, health care and substance abuse, depression and suicides and housing."

Toward this end, Secretary Shinseki indicated that the Veterans Administration will spend $3.2 billion next year on homelessness, 85% of which will go toward improving mental health and treating substance abuse.