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Stand up !!. For Homeless Veterans by…. “Standing Down”. Virginia Workforce Center Roanoke . How many Homeless Vets are there in America Today?. Too Many…. Too Many…. Approximately 529,000-840,000 (circa 2007). Some of the reason veterans are Homeless. Medical Financial Divorce
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Stand up !! For Homeless Veterans by… “StandingDown” Virginia Workforce Center Roanoke
Some of the reason veterans are Homeless Medical Financial Divorce Employment
Can you I.D. a Homeless Vet? • Sometimes it is obvious, as you have just seen….
Other times it is almost impossible to tell…Because not all homeless Vets look “homeless”
Or are living on the street… • Some live in Shelters • Some live out of Their cars • Others live with Relatives or Friends
What % of the Homeless Vet Population is Female? • Less than Three Percent
What Can be Done For Homeless Vets? • Many Things • Among the Many Things… • A Stand Down
What is a … Stand Down?
A Stand Down was originally: • A Break for Soldiers / Sailors / Marines / Airmen from battle during Armed Conflict. But now…here in America...
A Stand down is: • A Local Event or a • A Regional Event • To assist homeless Veterans
Where was the First Veteran Stand Down in the U.S. ?? • San Diego, California the summer of 1988….and it was: • The brain-child of Vietnam Vets: Robert Van Keuren and Dr. Jon Nachison • It is estimated that 100,000 homeless vets nationwide have received assistance in these last two decades. www.vvsd.net
Who Participates in a Stand Down? Partners: • Veteran’s Employment Service Representatives LVER & DVOP • VA Medical Centers (Hospital) Homeless Program and Healthcare Professionals • Department of Rehabilitative Services Representatives • Veterans Organizations (VVA, DAV, AL,VFW, Order of the Purple Heart, etc.)
Partners (Continued) Plus…. • Employers • Sponsors • Volunteers • Caring Citizens
What happens at a Stand Down ? Homeless Vets are provided With a wide range of Necessities including:
Healthcare VAMC or Local Healthcare Professionals are Available to Provide Health Screenings and Referrals
Clothing • Partners Provide Something Substantial To Wear
Food • Vets are provided a hot, Nourishing Meal & • SNACKS…
Job Counseling • Job Referrals and Career Counseling by Workforce Professionals
INFORMATION • WHO TO CONTACT • WHERE ELSE TO GO • HOW TO GET A COPY OF YOUR DD214 • WWW.NATIONALARCHIVES.GOV • USE THE FORM INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET. MAKE COPIES AS NEEDED.
And Most Importantly… • Companionship and • Camaraderie
Veterans Will Tell You “I JUST NEED A HAND UP…… NOT A HAND OUT”. MOST WILL OFFER TO DO SOMETHING IN RETURN FOR ASSISTANCE.
THE TOP 3 NEEDS OF HOMELESS VETERANS • FOOD • CLOTHING AND
Assistance In… Finding a Place to Live
Do Homeless Veterans Want To Work…YES • THEY COME TO SEE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE WORKERS ALL THE TIME • PEOPLE HAVE PICKED THEM UP FOR YEARS.
Transportation is an important part of recovery from homelessness. HELP BY PROVIDING BUS PASSES OR USE YOUR OWN CAR AND GIVE SOMEONE A RIDE TO AN INTERVIEW.
How many Stand Downs are Slated by Local/Regional Organizations in 2008 62 So Far…
What can you and Your Organization Do? Have a Stand Down We’re going to show you how SIMPLE IT IS…
DECIDE IF IT WILL BE 1-2-3 DAY EVENT CHOOSE PRIMARY SPONSOR(S) COULD BE STATE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE VAMC VETERANS ORGANIZATION
Sponsors could include: • Grocery Chains • Department Stores • Sports Stores • Physicians, Dentists, etc. • News Media (to assist in getting the word out to Concerned Citizens)
How a Stand Down is Formulated…Start 6 months in advance Create a Plan • Pick the Target Date? • What Services will you Provide? • Find a Place to have the Stand Down • Invite Partners • Meet to Decide How each Partner will Share in the Event
Find Partners • State Veteran’s Employment Service Representatives • Veteran Service Organizations DAV, VVA, Order of the Purple Heart, etc. • Department of Veteran Affairs VHA (VA Hospital) Homeless Vet Coordinator • State Rehabilitative Services • Credit Counselors Consumer Credit Counseling…. Non-Profit
Why did we include consumer credit counselors? The 2 leading causes affecting homeless veterans financial recovery. BAD CREDIT AND CHILD SUPPORT.
With The Created Plan THEN Implement the plan Why…are you waiting another day? HAVE A STAND DOWN
SPANISH=STAND DOWN= Parse HACIA ABAJO OR retirarse RUSSIAN= STAND DOWN= УСТУПИТЬ МЕСТО POLISH=STAND DOWN= W DÓŁ ITALIAN=STAND DOWN STAND= M INV DOWN=giù da FRENCH =STAND DOWN= Se TENIR EN BAS ARABIC=STAND DOWN=التنحي PORTUGUSE=STAND DOWN STAND=FICAR DOWN= USA=STAND DOWN Homeless veterans are found worldwide
THERE WILL BE HOMELESSNESS AMONG IRAQI AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS. BE PREPARED FOR THE HURT
How do you FEEL when a Stand Down is…Over? • Like All that hard work and effort was Worth It • Lets be first to end the need for a STAND DOWN
Or – If all Else Fails… Call or E-mail: Harry White – 540-561-7473 harry.white@vec.virginia.gov Ron Brown – 540-561-7476 ronald.brown@vec.virginia.gov Ed Blevins – 540-561-7493 Edward.blevins@vec.virginia.gov For assistance…
Finally… The Stand Down in Roanoke, Virginia 2006 Copies can be provide upon request.