by Nicole Wyatt
WIAT-TV Birmingham, AL
February 22, 2010
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LeTonia Robertson is an Army National Guard member who served in the Afghanistan war. She says returning to her pre-war life was difficult.
"It took a lot of getting used to being around people again and just being there for my son," explains Robertson.
Female troops face many troubles when they return home, but one of the biggest issues, is homelessness.
The Department of Veteran's Affairs says there are thousands of homeless women vets, and the number is on the rise.
"It really hurts to know the homeless rate for female vets are on the rise," Robertson adds.
As more and more women return home from war, the VA says they try to expand their programs to help them better transition into civilian life.
"We're also seeing more female vets with children and male vets with children and any vet with a child is given priority," adds Cristina Rice, a social worker at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center.
The near future will also see more help for homeless vets in the region.
"We have some excess land on site approximately seven acres that we're looking to lease out to private organization to come in and construct transitional houses for homeless vets," says Daniel Conville, a project manager for the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center.
Plus, these female vets will also have a new place to find improved medical care, as the Tuscaloosa VA unveils their new women's health clinic next month.
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