Sooner Stand Down to aid homeless and at-risk Veterans in Oklahoma City Sept. 6

In January 2024, a Point in Time count showed that 7% of Oklahoma City’s homeless population are Veterans. The annual Sooner Stand Down event is a collaborative partnership between human service organizations and Oklahoma City VA Health Care System that aims to provide immediate relief and support to Veterans experiencing homelessness.  

Veterans attending the Sooner Stand Down can access various services, including housing assistance, barbers, vision, dental, mental health and primary health care services. Veterans can also get additional help with employment, legal issues, spiritual counseling and substance use. Veterans will also receive personal hygiene kits, hot meals, and bottled water. The Stand Down has once again received sponsorship support from Boeing and other organizations. 

In addition to the services that are provided every year at the Stand Down, organizers have the goal of housing 10 Veterans this month.  

“Identifying Veterans in need of housing assistance continues to be an important priority for our community,” said CEO of the Homeless Alliance, Meghan Mueller. “It is vital for us to continue our quest to eliminate barriers that these heroes face as they seek to move from homelessness to housing, which means working collaboratively with landlords, government officials, businesses and more.” 

Mueller says the collaborative group of agencies working to address Veteran homelessness will try to house more than their goal of 10 this month, if they can find the housing resources. Organizations including the Oklahoma City VA, Homeless Alliance, Goodwill, Mental Health Association Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Housing Authority, Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency and HOPE Community Services agreed to work together to meet the housing goal.  

“One Veteran experiencing homelessness will always be one too many,” said Sooner Stand Down Coordinator and Oklahoma City VA Health Care System Healthcare for Homeless Veterans social worker Christine Cleary. “The Sooner Stand Down allows us to reach vulnerable Veterans and ensures we can get them resources needed for the safe, stable housing they deserve.” 

Oklahoma City VA helps Veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless with: 

• Immediate food and shelter, including both transitional and permanent housing 
• Job training, life skills development, and education 
• Support with justice system navigation and community re-entry from jail 
• Resources for financial support to prevent homelessness 
• Treatment for addiction and depression 
• Health and dental care 

The Sooner Stand Down is a collaborative effort involving multiple organizations, including Oklahoma City VA Health Care System, Homeless Alliance, Veterans United, and others. Connect with Christine Cleary at 405-456-1710 for more information. 

The Homeless Alliance, a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization, helps coordinate and improve services for Oklahoma City homeless population. For more information about how to help, call the Homeless Alliance at (405) 415-8410. 

To set up an interview with the VA Health Care System please contact Carmen Daugherty at 405-416-0279. To set up an interview with the Homeless Alliance please contact Taylor Self at 845-475-5115.