By COLEMAN NEE

DAV national commander

According to U.S. government data and recent policy studies, nearly 25% of America’s veterans live either below the federal poverty level or paycheck to paycheck, with little margin for unexpected expenses.

To get by, many adopt emergency-level budgets. But even the harshest austerity measures may not be enough. Life at the bottom still costs money. Mortgages and rent must be paid. Vehicles are needed to reach work or medical appointments. So, what can be cut? Too often, it’s food—eating less or sacrificing nutrition. Tragically, many veterans and their families face this choice every day.

The latest data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that 7.5% of veterans—about 1.5 million—are hungry or food insecure. The Department of Veterans Aff

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