“You don’t leave anybody outside the wire. If you’ve got wounded outside the wire, you go get them, regardless of the cost.” –Stand Down Founders, Robert Van Keuren and Dr. Jon Nachison
Stand Down is a community-based intervention that was started in 1988 by VVSD in response to the overwhelming number of homeless veterans on the streets of America. Since then, the program has been widely replicated nationwide. Today, more than 200 Stand Downs take place across the country every year.
Started for veterans, by veterans, Stand Down is a three-day event designed to help the nation's estimated 200,000 homeless veterans "combat" life on the streets. Specifically, Stand Down aims to transform the despair and immobility of homelessness into the momentum necessary to get into recovery, to resolve legal issues, to seek employment, to access health services and benefits, to reconnect with the community and to get off the streets.
This year, Stand Down will take place starting July 13th through July 15th, where hundreds of homeless veterans will be provided a wide range of necessities including: clothing, food, picture IDs, medical and dental care, showers, employment counseling, and many other services. But perhaps most importantly, veterans will be provided with the feeling of safety and care in the community.
To volunteer, please visit http://www.vvsd.net/sd_volunteers_2012.htm to register.
