Charleston VA hosts 2025 Stand Down to support Veterans experiencing homelessness
By Joey Swafford, Public Affairs
The Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System hosted its annual Stand Down on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at the Charleston Area Convention Center, bringing together Veterans, service providers and community partners to support those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
This year’s Stand Down brought together over 250 Veterans and connected them with resources from vendors, representing federal, state and community partners.
Dr. Danielle Dahle, Chief of Mental Health at the Ralph H. Johnson VA HCS, welcomed Veterans and thanked the many partners and volunteers who made the event possible.
“We are so thankful for the opportunity to hold this event here at the North Charleston Convention Center, our first time using this venue, which has allowed such robust vendor participation,” Dahle said.
She noted that last year’s Stand Down drew strong Veteran participation, and this year’s turnout showed even greater involvement from Veterans and service providers. The event included more than 25 VA programs, 17 Veteran Service Organizations, 28 community partners, 18 employers, 11 community medical service agencies and legal services.
North Charleston Mayor Reggie Burgess also addressed the crowd, reflecting on his family’s legacy of military service and emphasizing the city’s commitment to caring for Veterans.
“If you did not do what you did, I would never have had the opportunity to become a police chief or mayor,” Burgess said. “Let us be here today with a renewed commitment to continue serving and standing up for our Veterans. We can’t just talk about it. We must be about it.”
LeJasmine Gary, Homeless Program lead at the Ralph H. Johnson VA HCS, highlighted how VA programs connect Veterans with both immediate support and long-term stability.
“We have several programs to assist homeless Veterans, from providing food, showers and laundry at our Community Resource and Referral Center to offering more than 100 temporary beds through our Grant & Per Diem and Contract Residential Services programs,” Gary said. “Our outreach teams meet Veterans where they are, whether on the streets, in shelters or in jail, and connect them with the services and housing they need. Events like Stand Down bring all those resources together in one place.”
Gary also emphasized the role of partnerships and the VA’s overarching goal.
“As much as we’d love to provide everything, we rely on community partners for things like deposits, rental payments and additional housing opportunities,” she said. “Our biggest goal is to end Veteran homelessness. By working together, we can move Veterans into permanent housing and help improve their overall quality of life.”
The Stand Down brought together a broad network of organizations under one roof, offering one-stop access to medical screenings, employment opportunities, housing assistance, legal aid and other vital resources.
The Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System serves more than 100,000 Veterans across South Carolina and Georgia through its Charleston medical center and seven community-based outpatient clinics. Its Homeless Program continues to expand services that connect Veterans to permanent housing, health care and employment opportunities as part of VA’s national mission to end Veteran homelessness.
“Stories like those we see at the Stand Down remind us of why we do this work,” Dahle said. “Every Veteran who walks through these doors deserves to leave with new hope, new resources and a renewed sense of community."