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Homeless Veterans in St. Louis

St. Louis Public Radio
Published August 13, 2003 at 10:39 AM CDT
Homeless veteran Will Terrell works in the kitchen of McMurphy's Grill, a job skills training program operated by St. Patrick Center in St. Louis. Terrell was in the U.S. Navy from 1974-1976.
(KWMU Staff Photo)
Homeless veteran Will Terrell works in the kitchen of McMurphy's Grill, a job skills training program operated by St. Patrick Center in St. Louis. Terrell was in the U.S. Navy from 1974-1976.

By Kevin Lavery, KWMU

St. Louis, MO –

Federal officials estimate about a quarter of a million of the nation's homeless adults are veterans.

Most served during the Viet Nam War, and some suffer from combat-related conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. But for the majority of veterans living on the streets or in shelters, substance abuse, mental illness and the lack of support networks have more to do with their situation than any experience on the battlefield.

In St. Louis, homeless services agencies are using a recently renewed federal grant to try to help nearly 300 veterans find work - and ultimately, their independence. KWMU's Kevin Lavery prepared this report.
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