Veterans Affairs secretary pledges $1.8M per year for homeless vets in SF

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- On Wednesday, a summit took place between the Veterans Administration and the mayors of San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose. All share a problem in common -- the homeless, many of whom are veterans. Solutions may be coming, but for just a few people at a time.

In San Francisco, the chronic homeless are impossible to ignore, and often, just as difficult to help. An estimated one in every five homeless people may be veterans.

"I am one of the lucky ones, no doubt..." Vietnam veteran Jack Hanna said.

Though luck is relative, after years on the street, Hanna now lives in city subsidized housing on Kearny Street. The same goes for Harry Devenney, a former Navy Bosun's mate who hit the streets after a divorce and alcohol problems. This entire building is dedicated to once-homeless veterans.

Devenney said there are a lot of veterans in need of housing.

They may get more help after Wednesday's visit by U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald, who met with the mayors of Oakland, San Jose, and San Francisco with a goal of getting homeless veterans safe havens in tough cities.

"If anything, before we go into a war, we've got to determine whether or not we've got the commitment to take care of the people after the war," McDonald said.

To San Francisco, the secretary pledged $1.8 million a year for the next decade to help house veterans. It will help subsidize another 111 rooms in the city, with more on the way.

"I've got 6,000, maybe 7,000 people on the streets. I'm not going to let that number scare me. I'm going to do 10 at a time, 20 at a time, 100 at a time," San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said.

For vets, finally having a roof over their heads, is wonderful.

"Heat -- that's all I need... and a nice bed," Devenney said.

They are small steps and maybe some good solutions to what remains an overwhelming social problem.