We would be remiss if we didn’t take the time to commend the remarkable work being done by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in their effort to support veterans, first responders, and their families. We are not affiliated with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation despite the shared word in our names, though we could not be more proud of the tremendous success the foundation has had in getting some 3,300 homeless veterans off the street! Remarkably, this is only an estimated 10% of all veterans who have experienced homelessness. As such, there is still much work to be done in this undertaking.

It’s always a treat to be able to direct a vet to the T2T.org site to get in touch with someone who will change their life for the better. We have the same goal to get vets off the streets and out of the tunnel, and aspire to change their lives whenever our paths cross.

Everything is different in the tunnel—most profoundly, perspective. One simply cannot fully grasp the attitudes and obstacles of those who reside beneath the cities without residing there as well. For instance, some homeless people have dogs. A cute little dog is great advertising on a street corner. Something people may fail to consider, however,
is the possibility that there may be fleas. Yes, people can get fleas without having a pet, but neither is easily treated when a change of clothes and a bath are typically few and far between. This is one aspect of homeless life which escapes most people’s consideration.

Another is the issue of mistreatment. There are a few demographics which like to claim the victim title of second-class citizen, but it’s doubtful any of them would trade places with a homeless person. If anything, these are third-class citizens in the eyes of many Americans. It’s easy to see store employees’ faces turn to disgust when the next customer is sweating from being outside for hours, hauling everything they own wrapped in a dirty jacket or stuffed in duffel bag. The immediate assumption is that they’re going to ask for a key to the restroom, where they’ll spend the next hour shooting heroine or smoking meth; or at best, there will be an actual purchase which will be paid for by counting out a mixture of pocket change and wet dollar bills. But before they even get to the counter, all eyes are upon them. Shoplifting is expected. Outlandish behavior is anticipated.

This is not to say that such presumptions are not unfounded, but if made based on the color of someone’s skin, they would be outrageous and unacceptable to the point that such action is punishable by law—but if based on the appearance of homelessness, it is still fair to cast our eyes downward, expecting the very worst from them before we even know their names.

This mistreatment is particularly hard to witness when it’s directed at veterans. These folks are more likely to have a greater love and appreciation for this country than those who treat them so poorly and with such disrespect. It doesn’t mean there aren’t veterans who steal things, but even thieves are generally held in higher regard than homeless people as long as they’re wearing clean clothes. Most Americans would not wear such sweat-stained, drab, and soiled clothes, but we should not forget that these people once wore other clothes which most Americans wouldn’t wear, and while those uniforms may have long since faded, the character within the drab and dusty rags often still remains. This is no life for those who proudly wore the uniforms of our armed services, and it is only fitting that we recognize the fact by giving them the opportunity to rejoin society and get the help they need, just as they had joined their armed fraternities to ensure the help and securities we all enjoy. One of the most inspiring facts about the initiative which focuses on Homeless vets is that this effort can actually win. It is absolutely conceivable that this initiative can end someday, and relatively soon.

Please consider subscribing to The Tunnel newsletter and supporting the Homeless Veterans initiative so that we can continue to play an ever bigger part in repaying these folks for their efforts and commitments in serving in our armed forces, and do not forego your opportunity to visit the Tunnel to Towers website to learn about the wonderful work it does and to join in their effort, as well, in giving life-changing aid to US veterans, first responders, and their families. The Tunnel newsletter’s unwavering reverence and support is with all of them.