Founded in 1990 by a group of community-based homeless veteran service providers, the NCHV is a nonprofit, tax exempt, 501© 3 corporation. NCHV will end homelessness among veterans by shaping public policy, promoting collaboration, and building the capacity of service providers. AMVETS has joined forces with the NCHV and other veteran service organizations in working towards these stated objectives. Both the National Legislative department and the National Programs department represent AMVETS in this coalition. As such, AMVETS will have an opportunity to provide input to the VA Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans, which was appointed by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi on April 12, 2002. For information on how your post or department can become more involved,visit the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans website.
VA Site http://www1.va.gov/homeless
How to Get Started in your local community, post and/or department.
Establish a Homeless Veterans Task Force; A Resource Click Here
Stand Downs
What is a Stand Down?
In times of war, exhausted combat units requiring time to rest and recover were removed from the battlefields to a place of relative security and safety. At secure base camp areas, troops were able to take care of personal hygiene, get clean uniforms, enjoy warm meals, receive medical and dental care, mail and receive letters, and enjoy the camaraderie of friends in a safe environment.
Today, Stand Down refers to a grassroots, community-based intervention program designed to help the nation’s estimated 200,000 homeless veterans “combat” life on the streets. Homeless veterans are brought together in a single location for one to three days and are provided access to the community resources needed to begin addressing their individual problems and rebuilding their lives. In the military, Stand Down afforded battle-weary soldiers the opportunity to renew their spirit, health and overall sense of well-being. Today’s Stand Down affords the same opportunity to homeless veterans.
Two excellent resources for better understanding the process are here:
URL from the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans that offers great detail: http://www.nchv.org/page.cfm?id=122
Video – A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out
VIDEO WILL GO HERE
If you have never witnessed a Stand Down and are contemplating organizing and/or supporting a network of local agencies in conducting a Stand Down, please take a few minutes to get the real flavor of a successful event.
AMVETS would like to recognize and thank Marquette University for making the Video available. It was taped and edited by students at MUTV, Marquette University’s student-run station.
Additional information may be found at Wisconsin Stand Down, Inc.
Web site: http://www.war-veterans.org/Stddwn.htm