Many Military Families Face Tough Times and Even Homelessness

Veronica Neffinger | iBelieve Contributor | Updated: Feb 16, 2017

Many Military Families Face Tough Times and Even Homelessness

America is facing a crisis of homeless and impoverished veterans, according to CBN News.

Military veterans reportedly make up 17 percent of the U.S.’s homeless population, which equals about 76,000 veterans who are living on the streets.

One such family who experienced this hardship is the Kings. Nakisha and Gary King are both military veterans. Nakisha is a retired Air Force vet who struggles with the disease Lupus.

Due to medical bills and other costs of living, the Kings were evicted from their home. Nakisha explained the difficulty many vets have transitioning from the military back to civilian life:

"You go into the civilian world and that check is not the same," she explained. "You have to pay for your own medical, you have to pay for your own dental. Your grocery bills are going up because you can't go on the base to go shopping. Those things change."

The Kings have three boys who they also need to provide for. After they were evicted, Nakish stated, "At first it was hard. We both shed tears with having to sell things, sell clothes, sell electronic items."

The Kings were thankful, however, that they were able to get back on their feet through the help of Operation Homefront, as well as from the VA’s Office of Human Affairs.

"We just have to trust God that he will take us where we needed to go and he did," said Nakisha. "He intervened and stepped right in and I believe that that test happened for a reason."

The Kings now work at the Hampton, Virginia Veterans Administration helping other veterans who find themselves in similar dire situations as the Kings once faced.

"I know how it feels to not know where your next meal will come from and you don't know what's going to happen but you have a support system that is able to help you. You have someone that says 'it's going to be okay I can help you over here,’” Nakisha stated.

 

Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com

Publication date: February 16, 2017



Many Military Families Face Tough Times and Even Homelessness