Impiger,
Whilst I can see your point and agree with it to a certain degree, and bow to your superior knowledge, the fact remains there is a real problem happening here.
More should be done to help these men and women. They have served their country and have been used to a sheltered environment. But they have also been exposed to an extremely hostile environment, particularly in the last ten to fifteen years with the Balkans and the Gulf conflicts.
These problems are only going to get worse and we need to put something together now before it spirals out of control, if it hasn't already. Most of them probably did have houses and jobs before losing it all through drugs and/or alcohol. But their mental problems aren't necessarily linked to these.
Not being able to cope with the memories or experiences they have lived through are the triggers; and with a more understanding attitude from MoD to mental health problems we can prevent the trigger from being pulled. Launching these poor souls into a life of despair.
With the over stretch of our military this WILL increase the number of examples of homeless and jobless ex service personnel.