According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, a non-profit organization, there are 441 homeless veterans in New Mexico. Jeff Anderson (53) is one of them, and his story is unique: He is on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and he gets about $500 a month.
He said he lived with his sister until she kicked him out onto the street. However, Anderson has not resigned himself to homelessness.
He aspires to start a career in advertising one day. Anderson sees himself as independent and self-reliant; he prefers not to seek help from the mission or homeless shelters. He said although many homeless people have passed through Albuquerque, he plans on staying and trying to build a better life.
