One large and unfortunate side effect of war is a new social problem in America; and that is homelessness among veterans of foreign wars. Approximately 33% of the nation’s homeless are veterans and 98% of these homeless veterans are male. This is a large percentage of homeless veterans considering that only 23% of the general adult male population in the United States is homeless. It is estimated that 299,321 homeless veterans live in this country. The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and numerous charitable organizations are attempting to help them by looking at the causes of their homelessness. The main reasons given for this problem among ex-soldiers are post traumatic stress disorders and substance abuse issues. The horrors of war often do not go away easily and the result is that many veterans have a hard time adjusting to life once they return from battle situations. As a result, the top priority to help homeless veterans is to ensure housing, support, and nutritional meals. Substance abuse care is also an important need. With war continuing in the world and the United States involved in these foreign wars, this support must continue for current and future veterans. Perhaps the trend can be broken in time when and if war becomes less necessary for the United States to be involved in. In the meantime, the general public in America should remember to have compassion and understanding for homeless veterans. These are people who went to war to defend the country and they should be treated like the heroes they are.