Phoenix VA Supports Women Veterans at Unhoused Stand Up
By Tynisha Ferguson, Phoenix VHA Public Affairs Specialist
Phoenix VA joined community partners and Veteran Service Organizations at Veterans First Limited’s second annual Women Veterans Unhoused Stand Up to provide services, resources and information to women Veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness at American Legion Post 1 in Phoenix, Jan. 22.
“This Stand Up is about meeting women Veterans where they are and making services accessible in a supportive environment,” said Darlene Gonzales, Vice President of Veterans First Limited. “By bringing VA service lines and community partners together, we can reduce barriers and help women Veterans take meaningful steps toward stability.”
Gonzales continued, “We get a lot of phone calls from various organizations and the women themselves, and so we saw the need out there to give Veterans a little hand up so at least they would know what organizations are here to assist them when they need the help.”
The Phoenix VA partnered with Veterans First Limited, state agencies, community providers, and nonprofit organizations to give Veterans access to multiple support in one location.
U.S. Air Force Veteran Pamela Cosby who has attended many Veteran stand ups confirmed this was a great idea. “This Veteran stand up was impactful because I enjoyed the fact that there's a lot of different departments represented here,” said Cosby. “I can talk to people face to face whereas most of the time it's on the phone or you must make an appointment that may not be compatible with your lifestyle; having them all centrally located like this is great because if you were to do it on the outside, it would probably take you a week to hit everybody.”
Phoenix VA service line staff were on site throughout the event to connect women Veterans with mental health services, health care enrollment, women health resources, intimate partner violence, military sexual trauma, homeless programs, and benefits assistance.
Phoenix VA’s Mobile Medical Unit was also on site to provide Flu, Covid 19, RSV, Pneumonia, and Tdap vaccinations as well as health checks for Veterans for blood pressure, blood sugar, and medical issues.
VA representatives from nutrition provided diabetes education to a few Veterans and shared an emergency food supply booklet, which provides a list of the nutrition services provided by the Phoenix VA as well as cooking tips, and local food resources to include food pantries throughout Maricopa County, nutrition tips for Veterans unhoused and budget-friendly meal options.
Additionally, Phoenix VA Program Support Specialist Michael Fletcher and Licensed Practical Nurse/Telehealth Clinical Technician Dana Wilkinson from the Virtual Health Resource Center brought information to help women Veterans use VA technology, such as VA Video Connect, VA mobile apps geared toward women, remote patient monitoring, VA.gov, and My HealtheVet.
Community partners and agencies also offered employment and legal resources, housing assistance, social services.Veterans First Limited and its partners together provided necessities like clothing, shoes, backpacks, and tote bags filled with the essential supplies that will assist them in their current living situation. Veterans were also served lunch, drinks and snacks during the event.
Organizers said the collaborative approach helps ensure Veterans receive both immediate assistance and connections to long-term resources.
Veterans First Limited’s community leaders Joan Sisco and Darlene Gonzales said the strong participation from the Phoenix VA and partner agencies reflects a shared commitment to preventing and ending Veteran homelessness.
“This kind of coordination shows what’s possible when organizations work together for Veterans,” said Joan Sisco, Founder and CEO of Veterans First Limited. “We are so blessed to have all these exhibitors, and we choose exhibitors that are specific to what women struggling and homeless need.”
Sisco said they plan to continue hosting Stand Up events and strengthening partnerships to better serve women Veterans in the community. “Our goal is to be able to help struggling and homeless Veterans twice a year and our next stand up is planned for Sept. 2027.”
Sisco also mentioned that Veterans First Limited helps all Veterans and they have a hand-up program that assists in paying rent, utilities and provides other necessities if Veterans qualify.
“It’s just a blessing to be able to do what we do; we have prevented suicides and homelessness. We have a lot of families that we help, which includes struggling single mothers and dads,” said Sisco.
To learn more about the Phoenix VA homeless Veteran care, go here: https://www.va.gov/phoenix-health-care/health-services/homeless-veteran-care/.