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CNN Sunday Morning

Interview With Charles Haenlein

Aired November 16, 2003 - 07:42   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to talk more about this problem and what is being done by the government. Just how big of a problem this is. What can be done about it.
Joining us to talk about it is Charles Haenlein of the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans, a Vietnam veteran himself.

Mr. Haenlein, thanks so much for being with us today.

CHARLES HAENLEIN, NATL. COALITION FOR HOMELESS VETERANS: Well, thank your having me.

SAN MIGUEL: What is it that you're seeing with what's going on right now with the Iraq conflict, both of '91 and then what's going on now, that raises your concerns about the homeless situation?

HAENLEIN: Well, we're already seeing homeless people that have served in Iraq. In the last few months, we've already had to take care of a few people that have come back from Iraq and find themselves homeless.

During the Vietnam era, it took a few years before we begin to realize that some of these people were homeless. And this is just happening much too quickly.

SAN MIGUEL: Well, what are the patterns that you're seeing? I mean, you mentioned the Vietnam era. 47 percent, it's believed, of homeless vets on the streets right now, are Vietnam era. Are you seeing some patterns repeated here with the Iraq era veterans?

HAENLEIN: Yes, we are. What we're seeing is, for example, I think the American people would be appalled to realize that there are anywhere between 270,000 and 300,000 veterans each night that roam the streets of our cities with no place to stay.

A lot of the Vietnam era veterans came back to a society that didn't really care for the war that they were in, that didn't really welcome them home, and thought that they were, you know, should not have been where they are.

We're beginning to see a lot of that sentiment here with the people in Iraq. I think what the American people need to understand is that soldiers don't declare wars, they just go fight them. And when the wars are over, they deserve every bit of their respect and admiration as anyone else does. SAN MIGUEL: You heard -- you may have heard the VA administrator or Secretary Anthony Principi talk about Delayed Stress Syndrome and some of the emotional fatigue that happens, that can play into this particular situation. How do you feel the health care situation in this country is dealing with Delayed Stress Syndrome and vets?

HAENLEIN: I think the Veterans Administration does a great job. I mean, you have to understand the VA takes care of about 25 million veterans, to include the homeless veterans.

The Vet -- the health care they get there is some of the best anywhere. The problem is that that homeless veterans are a community problem also. And a lot of the people in the community want to leave everything to the VA or to the government to take care of.

The government is doing a great job. I mean, they literally spend hundreds of millions of dollars a year taking care of the homeless, and in particular the homeless veterans. But a lot of the communities, when the money comes to them, the veterans don't get their fair share.

SAN MIGUEL: So what's the solution to that, then? I mean, if what you say that maybe Congress is appropriating enough money, but the trickle down isn't getting to the communities, what needs to happen here to get these -- get help to these homeless vets?

HAENLEIN: Well, I think a good case in point is the president, for example, recently came out and said that he wanted to end homelessness in 10 years. Yet, all of the bills and all of the money or a lot of the money that's supposed to be spent on these programs still has not been appropriated yet.

SAN MIGUEL: Tell me about these stand downs that the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans, you know, got started. I believe in 1988, are those still going on? What happens and how do these help?

HAENLEIN: Well, they help tremendously because one of the things it does it links the homeless population in general and the veterans in particular, to health care entities and other support services that are available for them.

The one you're speaking of, I think, began in San Diego, and it's a two to three day affair, where they are given all kinds of different triage type treatments, hearing tests, dental checks. They're looked at for any type of disease that they may have. It's just a great, great avenue to get homeless people off the streets, get them a free meal, and let them know about some of the services that are available.

SAN MIGUEL: All right, are these still going on, though? I mean, you know, that was a -- you know, a while ago. You know, this you talk about the ways to get communities more involved here. This seems like a perfect way.

HAENLEIN: It is a perfect way. In fact, they are still going on. In our home city of Indianapolis here, we have one scheduled for this Friday, the 21st. And then we had one scheduled for the 19th of December.

SAN MIGUEL: Well, Charles Haenlein served from the '60s to '91 in the U.S. military. He is the president of the board of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. We appreciate your time. Thank you so much for joining us this morning.

HAENLEIN: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired November 16, 2003 - 07:42   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to talk more about this problem and what is being done by the government. Just how big of a problem this is. What can be done about it.
Joining us to talk about it is Charles Haenlein of the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans, a Vietnam veteran himself.

Mr. Haenlein, thanks so much for being with us today.

CHARLES HAENLEIN, NATL. COALITION FOR HOMELESS VETERANS: Well, thank your having me.

SAN MIGUEL: What is it that you're seeing with what's going on right now with the Iraq conflict, both of '91 and then what's going on now, that raises your concerns about the homeless situation?

HAENLEIN: Well, we're already seeing homeless people that have served in Iraq. In the last few months, we've already had to take care of a few people that have come back from Iraq and find themselves homeless.

During the Vietnam era, it took a few years before we begin to realize that some of these people were homeless. And this is just happening much too quickly.

SAN MIGUEL: Well, what are the patterns that you're seeing? I mean, you mentioned the Vietnam era. 47 percent, it's believed, of homeless vets on the streets right now, are Vietnam era. Are you seeing some patterns repeated here with the Iraq era veterans?

HAENLEIN: Yes, we are. What we're seeing is, for example, I think the American people would be appalled to realize that there are anywhere between 270,000 and 300,000 veterans each night that roam the streets of our cities with no place to stay.

A lot of the Vietnam era veterans came back to a society that didn't really care for the war that they were in, that didn't really welcome them home, and thought that they were, you know, should not have been where they are.

We're beginning to see a lot of that sentiment here with the people in Iraq. I think what the American people need to understand is that soldiers don't declare wars, they just go fight them. And when the wars are over, they deserve every bit of their respect and admiration as anyone else does. SAN MIGUEL: You heard -- you may have heard the VA administrator or Secretary Anthony Principi talk about Delayed Stress Syndrome and some of the emotional fatigue that happens, that can play into this particular situation. How do you feel the health care situation in this country is dealing with Delayed Stress Syndrome and vets?

HAENLEIN: I think the Veterans Administration does a great job. I mean, you have to understand the VA takes care of about 25 million veterans, to include the homeless veterans.

The Vet -- the health care they get there is some of the best anywhere. The problem is that that homeless veterans are a community problem also. And a lot of the people in the community want to leave everything to the VA or to the government to take care of.

The government is doing a great job. I mean, they literally spend hundreds of millions of dollars a year taking care of the homeless, and in particular the homeless veterans. But a lot of the communities, when the money comes to them, the veterans don't get their fair share.

SAN MIGUEL: So what's the solution to that, then? I mean, if what you say that maybe Congress is appropriating enough money, but the trickle down isn't getting to the communities, what needs to happen here to get these -- get help to these homeless vets?

HAENLEIN: Well, I think a good case in point is the president, for example, recently came out and said that he wanted to end homelessness in 10 years. Yet, all of the bills and all of the money or a lot of the money that's supposed to be spent on these programs still has not been appropriated yet.

SAN MIGUEL: Tell me about these stand downs that the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans, you know, got started. I believe in 1988, are those still going on? What happens and how do these help?

HAENLEIN: Well, they help tremendously because one of the things it does it links the homeless population in general and the veterans in particular, to health care entities and other support services that are available for them.

The one you're speaking of, I think, began in San Diego, and it's a two to three day affair, where they are given all kinds of different triage type treatments, hearing tests, dental checks. They're looked at for any type of disease that they may have. It's just a great, great avenue to get homeless people off the streets, get them a free meal, and let them know about some of the services that are available.

SAN MIGUEL: All right, are these still going on, though? I mean, you know, that was a -- you know, a while ago. You know, this you talk about the ways to get communities more involved here. This seems like a perfect way.

HAENLEIN: It is a perfect way. In fact, they are still going on. In our home city of Indianapolis here, we have one scheduled for this Friday, the 21st. And then we had one scheduled for the 19th of December.

SAN MIGUEL: Well, Charles Haenlein served from the '60s to '91 in the U.S. military. He is the president of the board of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. We appreciate your time. Thank you so much for joining us this morning.

HAENLEIN: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com