Stand Down Sees 65% Increase in Veteran Attendance Year Over Year

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 834 Veterans made their way to the largest annual event serving unhoused and at-risk Veterans and their families, a 65% increase in Veteran attendance since last year.

“With 503 Veterans attending last year and 361 pre-registered this year, we knew we were already on target to beat our numbers, but never did I imagine it would be 834,” said Deborah Carter, Community Engagement & Reintegration Services (CERS) Deputy Chief for Access & Outreach, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. Carter and her team spearheaded the stand down planning, always with the goal of finding housing for as many Veterans as possible that same day.

Army Veteran Lester Jordan came to the event with his French Bulldog Findy. A former cannon crewman, he attended to explore benefit options and meet up with some friends. He also picked up pet supplies donated by the community.

“It’s always a fun day,” said Jordan. “I’ve come here when I was homeless and a couple other times.” He first attended a Stand Down several years ago after his sister told him about it and he looked it up online.

Starting bright and early, nearly 100 service providers from VA and the community were lined up in long rows of white tents offering housing assistance; health and wellness services; VA benefits and claims; legal aid; donations distributed by the Center for Development & Civic Engagement (CDCE) including clothing, bedding and household items; employment services and training; and family assistance.

“Our community partners were eager and willing to participate,” said Carter. “These partnerships facilitated a successful event.”

Brentwood School has been an organizing partner since the very first Stand Down at VAGLAHS, said Assistant Head of School Gennifer Yoshimaru. “Stand Downs offer a really unique opportunity for unhoused Veterans with a range of needs to get the services they most desperately need in one place,” she said.

Brentwood School provided the rentals for the event as well as signage, logistics for service providers and volunteers, shuttles and food service.

Throughout the day, Veterans were assessed by providers for housing, mental health, and primary care needs. The Mobile Medical Unit (MMU), a van set up to offer medical services to Veterans on a traveling basis, was on site and staffed by members of the Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (HPACT).

Veterans who had never received care from VA were enrolled in the healthcare system and connected to multiples services at the event, said Carter.

Veterans in need of housing assistance met with the local public housing agencies including the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) and the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA). In addition, property managers from throughout the county were present to greet Veterans, display their properties, and initiate lease signings.

Several Veterans who were experiencing street homelessness agreed to enroll in VA transitional housing programs, which offer full support for accessing permanent housing resources.

“Every single phase of a Veteran’s housing needs was addressed,” said Carter.

Army Veteran Pamela Richardson and her daughter Traci came to the event with their two small dogs. They planned to speak to providers about pet services.

Pamela Richardson said she attended the Stand Down last year; “I signed up for utility help and I also signed up for volunteering.” She heard about the Stand Down from a staff member at downtown LA’s Bob Hope Patriotic Hall where Veterans Peer Access Network (VPAN) is located.

Music was the background throughout the day, with the Veteran band Finally Living (a part of the Rock to Recovery program) playing some original tunes, along with two DJs from the CERS outreach team and  American Legion Post 283, who also donated the stage.  Breakfast and a barbecue lunch were also served to Veteran attendees.

“When you do this event year to year and as engaged as we are with the Veterans who reside on the VA campus, there’s an aspect of the Stand Down that almost feels like a family reunion,” said Yoshimaru, adding that there’s a feeling of camaraderie around the day.

Planning is already in the works for next year’s event, which Carter hopes will be at a much larger venue. “We had everything you could need this year and yet there’s room for so much more to serve this population.”

As the event wound down, many Veterans left with paperwork or large bags of goods in hand.

“CDCE is excited to share that the GLA Stand Down provided over $150,000 worth of donated items and is proud to be a part of another successful event here at GLA VA to support our Veterans,” said CDCE Chief Pamela Keith.

Veterans also appreciated the stand down.

“I think it’s wonderful,” said Richardson of the event. “I’ve always had a great time at Stand Downs.”