DAV Magazine — January/February 2018
Standing down
Continuing the mission to combat veteran homelessness
DAV National Headquarters in Cold Spring, Ky., hosted its annual veteran homelessness stand down Oct. 6, linking nearly 230 homeless veterans with services such as medical screenings, claims benefits counseling, housing assistance, job placement services, financial advice, haircuts and myriad other potentially life-changing resources.
“Today is about the veteran community and taking it upon ourselves as part of that community to address a serious problem,” said National Commander Delphine Metcalf-Foster. “You who have served our nation— who answered the call—deserve a community to help you get back on your feet when the chips are down.”
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, an estimated 39,471 homeless veterans are on America’s streets on any given night.
“The cause of veteran homelessness in our country is extremely complex,” said National Voluntary Services Director John Kleindienst. “Factors like lack of affordable housing, obtaining livable income and access to health care often play a part. But veterans can potentially compound the equation by adding in at-risk dynamics such as being displaced, suffering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or a lack of family and social support networks.”
The stand down effort was fueled by approximately 75 volunteers from the local area. Many came to help fellow veterans in need.
“The greatest part of this operation is we are helping veterans right here in our national headquarters’ backyard,” said Steven Girdler, commander of Chapter 19 in Cold Spring, Ky. “These efforts, just like other chapters across the country, will help ensure we’re steadily chipping away at the problem of veteran homelessness that’s affecting our neighbors and respective communities.”
Harry Reardon of DAV Chapter 115 in Cincinnati said he believes in the premise of veterans helping veterans.
“[The stand down] is a wealth of knowledge,” he said. “If veterans take that knowledge and use it, they’ll benefit from it.”
One veteran, who himself used the homeless services three years ago, returned to the stand down to continue to be part of veterans helping veterans.
“I made it my personal mission to start working with other veterans and to make sure they were plugged into all the services and information that DAV provides,” said Michael Biggs, now a financial aid officer for the Brighton Center, a nonprofit social service provider in Newport, Ky.
“Every year, it seems we are serving fewer homeless veterans, which is a good thing,” said Kleindienst. “That means our efforts are paying off. But DAV remains committed to the idea that one homeless veteran is one too many. We will continue to combat this problem.”
DAV National Headquarters in Cold Spring, Ky., hosted its annual veteran homelessness stand down Oct. 6, linking nearly 230 homeless veterans with services such as medical screenings, claims benefits counseling, housing assistance, job placement services, financial advice, haircuts and myriad other potentially life-changing resources.
“Today is about the veteran community and taking it upon ourselves as part of that community to address a serious problem,” said National Commander Delphine Metcalf-Foster. “You who have served our nation— who answered the call—deserve a community to help you get back on your feet when the chips are down.”
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, an estimated 39,471 homeless veterans are on America’s streets on any given night.
“The cause of veteran homelessness in our country is extremely complex,” said National Voluntary Services Director John Kleindienst. “Factors like lack of affordable housing, obtaining livable income and access to health care often play a part. But veterans can potentially compound the equation by adding in at-risk dynamics such as being displaced, suffering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, or a lack of family and social support networks.”
The stand down effort was fueled by approximately 75 volunteers from the local area. Many came to help fellow veterans in need.
“The greatest part of this operation is we are helping veterans right here in our national headquarters’ backyard,” said Steven Girdler, commander of Chapter 19 in Cold Spring, Ky. “These efforts, just like other chapters across the country, will help ensure we’re steadily chipping away at the problem of veteran homelessness that’s affecting our neighbors and respective communities.”
Harry Reardon of DAV Chapter 115 in Cincinnati said he believes in the premise of veterans helping veterans.
“[The stand down] is a wealth of knowledge,” he said. “If veterans take that knowledge and use it, they’ll benefit from it.”
One veteran, who himself used the homeless services three years ago, returned to the stand down to continue to be part of veterans helping veterans.
“I made it my personal mission to start working with other veterans and to make sure they were plugged into all the services and information that DAV provides,” said Michael Biggs, now a financial aid officer for the Brighton Center, a nonprofit social service provider in Newport, Ky.
“Every year, it seems we are serving fewer homeless veterans, which is a good thing,” said Kleindienst. “That means our efforts are paying off. But DAV remains committed to the idea that one homeless veteran is one too many. We will continue to combat this problem.”
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