Posted on December 31, 2015 by Nikita Stewart in The New York Times The New York Times, By Nikita Stewart The bedraggled veteran draped in a flag, begging for spare change, has been one of the most persistent images of homelessness in this country. In New York City, however, it is a sight that may be fading from view. Even as city officials have struggled to cope with the surging number of homeless people over all, the city has quietly made significant inroads over the last few years in finding permanent housing for one group: homeless veterans. The number of veterans staying in shelters or on the streets has plummeted by nearly 80 percent since 2009, according to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.
