Michelle Obama: The Fact That Over 58,000 Vets Are Homeless Should 'Horrify' Us

Michelle Obama: The Fact That Over 58,000 Vets Are Homeless Should 'Horrify' Us
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US First Lady Michelle Obama speaks during the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders Presidential Summit on July 30, 2014 in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (AP) — First lady Michelle Obama says the statistic that the U.S. has more than 58,000 homeless veterans is "a stain on the soul of this nation," as the government expands its initiative for affordable housing for service members.

She announced Thursday nearly 100 local leaders have pledged this month to end homelessness among veterans in their communities by the end of 2015 as a part of the Mayors Challenge to End Veterans Homelessness.

Mrs. Obama said the "idea that anyone who has worn our country's uniform spends their nights sleeping on the ground should horrify us" and it's all Americans' duty to end veterans homelessness, addressing the 2014 National Conference on Ending Homelessness.

More than 80 mayors, governors and county officials had already committed to the pledge in June.

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