New Task Force To Assist Detroit Veterans
DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit City Council President Pro Tem Gary Brown is creating a Task Force on Military and Veterans' Affairs.
"I look forward to working with a lot of the agencies that are already in place right here in Detroit. We're not going to try to reinvent the wheel," said Brown, speaking at Tuesday's Council Meeting.
Advocates estimate that there are 2,400 homeless veterans in Michigan, and the percentage of homeless veterans is higher than that of the general population.
Brown, who is a veteran, said too many of Detroit's veterans are not taking advantage of the benefits and programs available to them.
"We have a goal and the goal is to bring resources to needy veterans, some of which, you know, are actually homeless, if you can believe that, in our city, and we should all be appalled by that fact," Brown said. "Hopefully this task force will go a long way in helping to reduce some of the homelessness and some of the suffering."
Brown said the Detroit area ranks near the bottom in the percentage of eligible veterans who apply for and receive benefits. "That's dollars that could be coming in and not only helping veterans but they would be spent in Detroit, that we're not taking advantage of," he said.
Homeless veterans looking for help can call (877) 424-3838.
