Helping Homeless Vets

By: Claire Kellett, Anchor/Reporter

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By Claire Kellett

Story Created: Nov 9, 2007 at 11:52 PM CDT

Story Updated: Nov 9, 2007 at 11:52 PM CDT

TRAER - One-quarter of all homeless people are veterans, even though vets make up just 11 percent of the adult population in the United States. That’s according to the Veterans Affairs Administration. Friday, one local veteran who served in the Air Force shared his experience living without a roof with TV Nine News.

The decorations lining the walls of Jon Guynn’s TV room reveal his favorite hobby.

“I love being out in the woods, on rivers, on lakes,” says Guynn.

And he loves returning to the warmth of his house. But that luxury hasn't always been an option for this 63-year-old veteran.

“I had to sleep under bridges. It was downright cold."

Guynn has been homeless three times for months at a time….eating anything he could get his hands on….and filling jobs that paid next to nothing.

“There were times I had as much as five dollars a week to live on, not good," says Guynn.

The tables turned when he landed a job at Traer Manufacturing and could afford his house. Other vets, not as lucky as Guynn, can get help from local veterans affairs offices. The one in Linn County sees about a handful of homeless vets every month. The immediate fix is finding a shelter to stay in. The long term goal is getting a permanent place to live.

“We will help pay the rent for three months and utilities for three months," says Don Tyne of the Linn County Veterans Affairs Office.

It also helps try to locate family and secure a job. Unfortunately Guynn might find himself in need of help again. An injury forced him from his job, and his social security disability runs out in a year. Now he fears being homeless a fourth time.

The Linn County Veterans Affairs Office says in the last year, it has helped a lot more younger veterans. The reason is because of the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Next Article Growing Up Fast: The Aplington-Parkersburg Class of 2012

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