For the last 26 years, a growing movement across the country has been reaching out to veterans who are homeless or facing housing insecurity. Called Four Corners Veterans Stand Down, the first such event in Southwest Colorado will be held Saturday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.
“We’re going to have more than 50 services, food, shelter, clothing, health screenings, counseling for Veterans Affairs and Social Securities benefits, referrals to other services,” said Janna Schaefer, event coordinator. “The three veterans service officers from La Plata, Archuleta and Montezuma counties, the Red Cross, Volunteers of America, will all be there. We want to give a hand up to veterans who are homeless or at-risk of being homeless.”
Haircuts, hot showers and hot meals also will be available.
“We want to remind them of the time when they wore the uniform, were proud, walked tall,” Dr. John Nachison, one of the original founders of the Stand Down movement, said to “60 Minutes” in 2011. “Veterans from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are becoming homeless quicker than veterans from Vietnam. It took them eight to 10 years, but these younger veterans are finding themselves homeless after just a year out of the service.”
Organizers don’t expect Stand Down to instantly solve the problem, but they do want to let veterans know that help is available.
“I told people when we were organizing this that many of the veterans will come and then head right back out where they’re camping,” Schaefer said. “But a week, a month, a year later, they’ll have that card you gave them and remember that you care, that you said, ‘There are ways we can help you.’”
abutler@durangoherald.com
If you go
Four Corners Veterans Stand Down will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. The event is not open to the public; it is only for veterans who are homeless or facing a housing insecurity. Rides will be available on the hour from Manna Soup Kitchen and from Hermosa. To arrange a ride, contact event coordinator Janna Schaefer at 749-1673.
To learn more about Stand Downs, visit www.youtube.com and search for “Homeless Veterans: Stand Down.”
