While the numbers are still small, they're steadily rising, and raising alarms in both the homeless and veterans' communities. The concern is that these returning veterans - some of whom can't find jobs after leaving the military, others of whom are still struggling psychologically with the war.

So far, dozens of them, like Herold Noel, a married father of three, have found themselves sleeping on the streets, on friends' couches, or in their cars within weeks of returning home. "It's horrible to put your life on the line and then come back home to nothing, that's what I came home to: nothing. I didn't know where to go or where to turn," says Mr. Noel. "I thought I was alone, but I found out there are a whole lot of other soldiers in the same situation. Now I want people to know what's really going on."

Veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are coming home to a very different America. Part of the reason for these new veterans' struggles is that housing costs have skyrocketed at the same time real wages have remained relatively stable, often putting rental prices out of reach. And for many, there is a gap of months, sometimes years, between when military benefits end and veterans benefits begin.

You can have all of the yellow ribbons on cars that say 'Support Our Troops' that you want, but it's when they take off the uniform and transition back to civilian life that they need support the most," says Linda Boone, executive director of The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

Both the Veterans Administration and private veterans service organizations are already stretched, providing services for veterans of previous conflicts. For instance, while an estimated 500,000 veterans were homeless at some time during 2004, the VA had the resources to tend to only 100,000 of them.

This is not how America should treat its veterans and the current administration is doing very little to help. Funds for veterans programs across the board have been cut. This has become a situation that is inexcusable and you have the ability to help.

Regardless of your views on the wars you can help thank these veterans for their service and protection of your freedoms and rights by making a donation, right here and right now.

We are asking you to dig deep with your hearts and donate whatever amount you can. The funds raised will be distributed equally and directly to homeless veterans shelters and programs across the country, and also to provide rent vouchers to veterans families in need.

You can make help make a difference!

Thank you!