Trump is pushing to institutionalize the homeless. That may include veterans

Military veterans are given food, clothing and other supplies during a Stand Down event designed to help veterans who are homeless or housing insecure on June 16, 2023 in Chicago. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Scott Olson/Getty Images Pedro Jauregui, with the organization U.S. Vets in Long Beach, Calif., once spent a whole year getting one homeless veteran to come in from the cold. "The first time I met him I had to walk away 'cause he gave me some choice words, waved a one finger at me and said he was gonna kill me," Jauregui said. But a year of regular visits, including plenty of hot coffees and donuts, and Jauregui convinced the vet to come indoors. After that he sobered up and started using his VA benefits for college. "We build relationships and then we use whatever we can to get the veteran the help he needs," Jauregui said. More than 30,000 U.S. military veterans are homeless , according to the latest government data from an annual one night "point in time count." That number is down significantly in the past decade, which most experts credit to a straightforward combination of robust funding and a philosophy focused on offering housing without prerequisites, called housing first. While the Trump administration has promised new housing for vets , President Trump also signed an executive order last year titled "Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets," which leans heavily toward institutionalizing homeless people against their will. …