A summit will be held Tuesday in Selma to address a nationwide problem — veteran homelessness. It’s an area where as a country, we’ve got to do better.

According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, about 11 percent of the adult homeless population are veterans. The NCHV says most veterans are single, live in urban areas and suffer from mental illness, alcohol or substance abuse or co-occurring disorders.

This is a problem that affects every city in our country, including Selma. A study done in recent years in Selma said that many homeless people in Selma are veterans.

Tuesday’s summit hopes to change that statistic.

The Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System are facilitating the discussion and wil provide information about programs to help homeless veterans. The Housing and Urban Development VA Supportive Housing program combines voucher rental assistance with other programs offered by the VA.

The summit will be held from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Selma Convention Center, located at 211 Washington Street.