"When I Came Home" Flyer2

WHEN I CAME HOME is a film about homeless veterans in America: from those who served in Vietnam to those returning from the current war in Iraq. The film looks at the challenges faced by returning combat veterans and the battle many must fight for the benefits promised to them. 

Through the story of Herold Noel, an Iraq War veteran suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and living out of his car in Brooklyn, When I Came Home reveals a failing system and the veteran's struggle to survive after returning from the war. 

Wednesday, Jan 31, 2007

Film Screening 7:00pm — 8:30 pm

Question & Answer Forum 8:30—9:00 pm

The Historic

RIVER OAKS THEATER

2009 West Gray & Shepherd

SYNOPSIS

Today in America, over 300,000 veterans are homeless.  Filmmaker Dan Lohaus set off across the country to document the lives of homeless veterans and listen to their stories.  Many told Lohaus that they had come back to America haunted by their memories of war, only to fight a new war at home. 

They spoke about returning from combat with overwhelming feelings of guilt and rage, about their nightmares and flashbacks, and about how difficult it was to simply readjust to a “normal life” in America. They spoke about losing their trust in the Veterans Administration and the American public. Nearly every homeless Vietnam veteran raised concerns about the new generation of soldiers returning home from combat in Iraq.

In late 2004, Lohaus found Iraq War veteran Herold Noel suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and living in his car in Brooklyn.  Suddenly, WHEN I CAME HOME became a film about history repeating itself.

Herold’s story had haunting similarities to those which Lohaus had heard from so many Vietnam veterans.  The film follows Herold’s struggle with homelessness and PTSD as he tries to get assistance from the V.A., city agencies, and different veteran’s organizations. 

With temperatures dropping in New York and Herold at his breaking point, Herold meets fellow vet Paul Rieckhoff, founder of the country’s largest Iraq veteran advocacy organization.

What follows is a media blitz that transforms the young, homeless veteran into the leader of a new movement. 

LATEST HEADLINES & STATEMENTS

“The events of September 11, 2001 and the days that followed are a sobering reminder to all of us that freedom is not...and never will be...free. A price has been paid and will continue to be paid by the young men and women who answer the call to serve and protect this great nation and all that it stands for.” 

US Vets, Inc.

“Conservatively, one out of every three homeless men who is sleeping in a doorway, alley or box in our cities and rural communities has put on a uniform and served this country…” 

National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

“With an estimated 400,000 veterans homeless at some time during the year, the VA reaches 25% of those in need ... leaving 300,000 veterans who must seek assistance from local government agencies and service organizations in their communities.” 

National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

“There will be more than 250,000 veterans sleeping on our streets tonight. We need to ensure that the words homeless and veteran are no longer in the same sentence.” 

Dennis Franz – Actor and Activist

 “More than a year after his return from Iraq, Hoffman is still battling depression, panic attacks, and nightmares. “I don’t know what I did,” he says, noting that errors and faulty targeting were common in the artillery. “I came home and read that six children were killed in an artillery strike near where I was. I don’t really know if that was my unit or a British unit. But I feel responsible for everything that happened when I was there.” 

David Goodman of MotherJones.com