A Veteran’s celebration of service for homeless and at-risk veterans

BOSTON – A recent press release from the VA Department of Veteran’s Affairs states that the Boston Healthcare System (VA BHS) states in cooperation with Volunteers of America Massachusetts and the City of Boston will be hosting the Boston Area Stand Down for homeless and at-risk Veterans on August 28 & 29, 2009 at Clifford Park, Boston (Across form 1010 Mass. Ave).

“Stand Down” is a military term referring to the brief period of time a soldier leaves an active combat area in order to rest and regain strength.  Today, Stand Down refers to a grassroots, community based intervention program designed to help the nation’s estimated 275,000 homeless veterans “combat” life on the streets.  The Boston Area Stand Down will bring a wide range of specialized resources together to provide homeless and at-risk veterans with comprehensive medical and psychosocial services.  Stand Down can be an opportunity for the homeless veteran to access a broad spectrum of services at one convenient location and to create a plan for re-entry into mainstream society.

When: Friday and Saturday, August 28 & 29, beginning at 8:00 a.m.

Where: Clifford Park – Boston, MA (On the Dorchester/Roxbury Line across from 1010 Mass. Ave.)

Who: VA Boston Healthcare System, Volunteers of America Massachusetts, the City of Boston and the Department of Labor

Benefiting: Homeless and at-risk veterans, male and female, residing in the state of Massachusetts

“Massachusetts Stand Down”, a program administered by the VA Boston Healthcare System, has been serving homeless and at-risk veterans for over fifteen years.  The “hand up, not a hand out” philosophy of Stand Down is carried out through the work of hundreds of volunteers and organizations who mobilize their resources to provide free services that include food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling, oral health/dental screenings, and referrals to a variety of other necessary services, such as housing, employment and substance abuse treatment.

With help from the Department of Labor, the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, in-kind support from Dagle Electrical Construction Corporation and IBEW Local 103 and volunteer efforts from veteran, social and human service agencies, the Massachusetts Stand Down will provide critical benefits and assistance to hundreds of homeless and at-risk veterans.