HONOLULU — Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki is trying to reduce homelessness among war veterans as his home state celebrates its 50th anniversary of statehood.

The Kauai-born retired Army general said during Hawaii’s statehood events Friday that he wants to get the nation’s estimated 131,000 homeless veterans off the streets.
Shinseki says the federal government is spending $3.2 billion next year on homelessness, 85 percent of which will go toward improving mental health and treating substance abuse. Much of the remaining money will be spent on housing programs.
Hawaii became a state in 1959, 18 years after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor pulled the United States into World War II.