Another force that has aided homelessness throughout history is that of war. War wreaks mass destruction over the land on which it is fought, leaving many homeless and hungry. Worse yet, the people affected by war usually do not receive immediate aid for their plight due to other concerns that the government possesses.
War affects many different levels of society. Some affluent citizens of a country may be able to secure the means to flee the disaster, but most are left to hope that their homes are not destroyed. War does not care which level of society it destroys, but rather aims to ravage as much of the enemy's territory as possible. People are disregarded as political officials fight out their battles with guns.
Spouses of soldiers fighting in a war can also become homeless due to the loss of their husband or wife and the source of income on which they depend to live. Without a steady source of money, families can quickly be forced into a harsh life on the streets.
Veterans of war are another group susceptible to becoming victim to homelessness due to war. Many times veterans are emotionally and mentally damaged by what they witness in battle, and, without proper counseling, can end up living on the streets due to mental illness.
However, the most prevalent cause of homelessness due to war is destruction. As mentioned before, war does not descriminate, it destroys everything in its path. Many citizens are left homeless with nowhere to go, and no one to come to their aid. Left with little or no resources, these people are forced to either learn how to live on the streets or die.
Faced with such a choice, many citizens teach themselves how to live without money. When one has nothing to his name, suddenly stealing and beating are not looked upon as horrible crimes, but as means to stay alive.
While there is little that we can honestly do to stop this from occuring, there are many charities which pledge to help these people. Through donating to these organizations, you can make a difference in the life of a person who desperately needs your help. One such organization, Homeless Veterans,
can be found on the web. Every little bit helps.
