Engl 123

Realignment of Foreign Aid to Homeless Veterans

English Composition 123

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

The Unites States must limit foreign aid and use some of the money to assist homeless veterans in the United States. According to Amoros (2014), “The United States spends approximately $35 billion in economic aid to over 140 countries in the fiscal year 2014.” Imagine the possibilities if that money was spent on issues in our own country. Homeless veterans make up 11% of the homeless population and 1.4 million veterans are currently at risk of poverty. These young men and women fight for our freedom and end up on the streets due to the lack of funding for programs that support them. However there are several questions that need answered like, where foreign aid money is consumed? What are the current veteran poverty statistics? What are the current poverty levels in the United States?

The Congressional Digest (1992) states, “The U.S. foreign assistance program is a fundamental component of the international affairs budget and is viewed by many as an essential instrument of the U.S. foreign policy.” Money is sent into underdeveloped countries in the form of food supplies, medical treatment, economic support and military assistance. Some of the countries that benefit from this aid are Israel, Egypt, Afghanistan, Jordan and Pakistan. However, in 2016, 76% of the world received foreign aid from the United States. In total, there are over 140 countries that receive some form of financial assistance from the United States. That came in the form of military upgrades, political alignment or feeding their poor.

So why would we take the money that is helping underdeveloped countries to help our veterans? Simple, young men and women enter into the military every year with the dream of a better life from the benefits of the military. After they leave the service, most suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or some form of alienation from serving...