American
Indian Warriors Member Juan del Rio, USMC Participated in the 2014 Veterans
Stand Down
By Roy Cook
What
is a Stand Down?
In times of war, exhausted combat units requiring time to rest and recover
were removed from the battlefields to a place of relative security and
safety. Today, Stand Down refers to a community-based intervention program
designed to help the nation's estimated 200,000 homeless veterans "combat"
life on the streets.
VVSD organized the
nation's first Stand Down in 1988. Since then, the program has been widely
replicated nationwide. Today, more than 200 Stand Downs take place across
the country every year. "The program has become recognized as the
most valuable outreach tool to help homeless veterans in the nation today,"
according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

Stand Down's philosophy is a hand up, not a hand out. The hand up is made
possible each year by the dedication of thousands of volunteers and numerous
sponsors. Since so many of our veterans are on the street, safe housing
and health issues are primary needs.
AIWA member, Juan
del Rio, is part of Amikas, an organization that provides housing to homeless
women veterans. They shared a table with the County of San Diego's Housing
& Community Development (HCD) at Stand Down, providing affordable
housing and shelter information. Amikas provided an up-to-date list of
available housing resources including transitional housingand affordable
rentals, helping to minimize the hundreds of fruitless calls often required
to find housing.
Amikas serves
female veterans, with or without children. They directly lease and then
sub-let rooms in 1 large house and 3 smaller houses, "at cost".
Currently Amikas houses 13 adults and 15 children. You can find out more
about Amikas at www.amikas.org where
they also provide lists of housing resources.
What
happens at Stand Down?
Stand Down this year was held July 18 20. Hundreds of homeless
veterans were greeted with respect and open arms and assigned to tents
where tent leaders assisted them in accessing services. Picture IDs were
provided for those who needed them and the VA and EDD assisted with registration.
Their immediate physical needs were addressed, including a visit to the
clothing tent; showers; barber, and medical and dental care. Other services
provided over the weekend included:· Homeless court
·
Counseling
· Veterans benefits
· Employment and job counseling services
· Acupuncture and massage therapy
· Recovery providers
· Shelters
· Chaplains services
· 12-step meetings for everyone
And last but not
least, meals were prepared by VFW, American Legion, VVSD, Kiwanis, and
supported by the Lions Clubs, Rotary and local food distributors.
Perhaps most important
of all is the feeling of safety. For the first time in possibly days,
weeks or even months, our homeless brothers and sisters could leave their
possessions in the care of others and rest.
Stand Down is a place
of miracles. Lives are changed and lives are saved. The founders of Stand
Down had a dream. They made it a reality, one which continues to offer
a true stand down for all homeless veterans.
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