[Publib] Regarding our nations recruitment of the homeless...

[Backwage at aol.com]

Some thoughts:  If you want young people to go somewhere other than  the 
military, you might suggest the library as an alternative career.  And  assist 
them in finding jobs, not just brochures.
 
And then:  According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans,  
"Forty-seven percent of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam Era. More  than 
67% served our country for at least three years and 33% were stationed in a  
war zone. . . on any given night there are 200,000 homeless veterans."   That 
would be more than one for every librarian in the United  States.  A third of 
homeless men are service veterans.  In other  words, one out of three of the 
guys you find sleeping in your periodicals  section was once a neat, clean 
soldier, sailor or airman.
 
While I've known at least half a dozen guys/gals who lived in cars after  the 
service, I knew many more who lived in garages or closets to get  along.  
Most men who re-enlist do so because they can't find comparable  work outside the 
military.  
 
It used to be that there were many veteran preference programs out there to  
help vets get into an entry-level position.  Many are now gone, or greatly  
watered down.  Back in the Seventies, vet preference was viewed as a  barrier to 
women's employment opportunity; this of course has become a cruel  joke now 
that women serve in combat units of the armed services.  
 
The patchwork of veteran preference standards is indeed strange and  
perplexing.  To the County of Los Angeles PL I am an eligible  veteran; to the City of 
Los Angeles PL I am not.  Some places  require only honorable service; others 
that you must be disabled.  The  federal standard is different, too.  Imagine 
if this were true of race  classifications, or if you had to prove your 
ethnicity through  demonstration of personal loss.
 
I've always said, if there were a club for service veteran librarians, we  
could hold meetings in a phone booth.
 
M. McGrorty



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