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Minn.'s Klobuchar Wants Housing For Homeless Vets

RICHFIELD, Minn. (AP) -- U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar appeared in Richfield at a supportive housing facility for veterans to promote a bill aimed at putting more homeless veterans in similar housing situations.

She said that it was the least those men and women deserved after fighting and sacrificing for the defense of the nation.

She said the bipartisan Homeless Veterans Support Act would strengthen an existing federal program that provides chronically homeless veterans with housing vouchers and provides other benefits.

A St. Paul-based research organization found that veterans make up 10 percent of the homeless in Minnesota and 20 percent of the homeless men. Wilder Research's 2009 study said more than half of homeless veterans have a serious mental health problem and nearly half are addicted to alcohol or drugs.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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