Columbia VA Hosts Homeless Veteran Stand Down, Assists More Than 250 Veterans

The event brought together 25 community partners and 13 internal VA departments, creating a one-stop opportunity for Veterans to access housing, health screenings, hygiene items, meals, and employment resources.

“This stand down reflects our mission to ensure no Veteran is left behind — not in health care, housing, or opportunity,” said David Brett Vess, Columbia VA Executive Director and CEO. At Columbia VA, we work together with our community to break down barriers and ensure Veterans get the support they’ve earned. It shows what’s possible when VA, community partners, and volunteers unite for a common purpose — serving those who’ve served us.”

The day opened with a stirring rendition of the National Anthem by Red Coat Ambassador Tony Cooper, a presentation of colors by the Fort Jackson Color Guard, and music provided throughout the event by DJ Steele.

Columbia Housing played a key role by sharing information about HUD VASH vouchers, which provide rental assistance to Veterans. “Events such as the Stand Down give Veterans an overall understanding of the support they have from various organizations, which results in increased access to housing,” said Shannia Jackson, Program Support Team Lead with Columbia Housing. Jackson said the event also provided an opportunity to network with other providers, enhancing the services available to the Veterans they serve throughout the year.

Transitions Homeless Center also participated, offering guidance on how Veterans can access beds and other services at their facility. “The Veterans I saw were pumped up,” said Craig Curry, CEO of Transitions Homeless Center. “They were getting information that was helpful and receiving support from people who care about them. Events like this make a real difference.” Curry highlighted a connection made during the Stand Down between one of his case managers and a VA suicide prevention expert, which will lead to future suicide prevention classes for Veterans staying at Transitions.

Healthcare for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program Coordinator Amanda Bonner said the primary goal of the Stand Down is to provide as many community and VA resources as possible to help prevent Veteran homelessness. “We believe that no Veteran should be homeless, and it is our mission to assist in ending Veteran homelessness,” Bonner said. She noted that the event allowed Veterans to receive health screenings, haircuts, hygiene items, food, and employment information, while also offering internal VA staff a chance to showcase the work of the HCHV Program.

So far in 2025, Columbia VA’s Homeless Program has successfully helped 434 Veterans across their 36-county catchment area secure housing, reflecting the health care system’s ongoing commitment to ending Veteran homelessness across South Carolina.

Bonner also emphasized the planning and collaboration required to make an event of this scale possible. “We begin preparing for Stand Down a year in advance,” she said. “We could not do the event without the partnership and collaboration of our internal VA departments and community partners. Everyone is willing and helpful, and the event demonstrates the power of community working together for Veterans.”

The HCHV Program continues to support Veterans after the event through case management, walk-in clinics, employment services, and HUD VASH social workers, helping Veterans secure and maintain long-term housing. Bonner encouraged Veterans in need to visit the walk-in clinic in Building 106, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838, or the Veterans Crisis Line at 988, press 1.

“Events like this give Veterans access to essential resources, companionship, and camaraderie,” Bonner said. “It’s a hand-up, not a handout, and that philosophy is what makes Stand Down so impactful.”

For more information about what’s going on at the Veterans medical center, clinic locations, and other services available to Veterans in and around Columbia, visit the website https://www.va.gov/columbia-south-carolina-health-care/ and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, keyword: VAColumbiaSC.

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About the Columbia VAHCS:

The Columbia VAHCS comprises the Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center and seven community-based outpatient clinics located throughout South Carolina in Anderson, Florence, Greenville, Orangeburg, Rock Hill, Spartanburg, and Sumter; serving more than 90,000 Veterans annually in 36 of 46 counties in South Carolina. The Columbia VA is a level 1b teaching hospital, providing a full range of patient care services, with state-of-the-art technology, education, and research. Comprehensive health care is provided through primary care, tertiary care and long-term care in areas of medicine, surgery, psychiatry, physical medicine, and rehabilitation.