Justice and Human Rights United States Project #9129

Veterans of War

by 3 Generations

Project Report | May 21, 2014
Meet Sgt. Leshonda Gill

By Hannah Eddy | Development & Outreach Coordinator

Back in 2003, Leshonda Gill was deployed to Iraq where she served as a Chemical Operations Specialist. Her mission was to find and decontaminate chemical weapons of mass destruction. One day, while on their way back from a mission, Gill's squad was ambushed. Gill sustained multiple injuries to her groin, abdomin, and legs and was sent home for recovery.

Gill was only home briefly before she decided to return to Iraq as a private contractor. By 2009, however, the Iraq War was beginning to wind down and Gill returned home permanently. Sadly, transitioning back into civilian life was no easy task and two years later, Gill found herself evicted from her apartment and standing on a window ledge preparing to jump.

Fortunately for Gill, an acquaintence talked her out of jumping and helped her move into a Los Angeles transitional sheter. Not all of course, are so fortunate. A National Coalition for Homeless Veterans report states that nearly 80% of homeless veterans suffer from mental health disorders, drug and/or abuse, or co-occurring disorders and an average of 22 veterans commit suicide each day. These statistics are alarming to say the least, and while the VA continues to slug through piles of applications and paperwork, time for many of these veterans is running out.

Today, Gill shares her story as a means of raising awareness about the plight that's facing thousands of other veterans like her. Help us raise the money we need to conduct and produce an interview with this inspiring woman and others like her. Donate to the Valuing our Veterans project today!

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Feb 27, 2014
UK Donors- Help Us Reach Our Goal!

By Hannah Eddy | Research Assistant

Jan 16, 2014
Valuing Our (Female) Veterans

By Hannah Eddy | Research Assistant

Over the past few years, an increasing number of condemning stories have come out regarding the prevalence of sexual assault and coverup in the military. According to the Department of Defense's 2012 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military, only 300 of 3,374 reported assualts were prosecuted while an estimated 26,000 assults went unreported. Much has been written about how the hyper-masculine environment of the military and the strict chain of command structure contribute to the severe descrepancy in reported incidents and as such, reforms are currently being instituted. But what of those service-women who have already left the military? The ones who may have been assaulted but were denied justice? Where are they now?

The answers to these questions are rather disappointing. Recent stories regarding veteran affairs have highlighted a disturbing rise in homeless female veterans. According to the latest figures from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, female veterans made up 10% of the 141,000 veterans nationwide who spent at least one night in a shelter in 2011; up from 7.5% in 2009. Perhaps more disconcerting, however, are the the factors that researchers suggest have contributed to this rise. A study by Dr. Donna Washington of UCLA's School of Medicine found that 53% of homeless female vets had experienced Military Sexual Trauma, or M.T.S. Such experiences oftentimes lead to PTSD and substance abuse. When combined with the challenges of finding a job and the lack tranisitional housing options for single mothers with kids, the downward spiral often appeared inevitable.

In 2014, we at 3 Generations hope to continue our veterans project by providing a platform for homeless female veterans to tell their stories; a right many were denied while in service. You can help us in this endeavor by donating today. Remember, every bit helps!

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