Veteran “Stand Down” Helps Homeless Vets

The City & County of Honolulu Mayor’s Office of Housing joins the Veterans Association (VA), Honolulu’s community service providers, non-profit organizations and State agencies throughout the year to help homeless veterans through a Veteran Stand Down.

What is a Stand Down? It’s an occasion where homeless veterans can make direct contact to obtain information and the help they need, including housing, employment and social services. In times of war, exhausted combat units requiring time to rest and recover were removed from the battlefields to a place of relative safety and security while rested units assumed the watch. In this context, Stand Down refers to a time when homeless veterans can remove themselves from the combat of the streets and receive needed services provided by the VA and the Honolulu community.

“Stand Down can work miracles,” said Jun Yang, Executive Director of the City’s Office of Housing. “For perhaps the first time in many days, months or years our veterans are given a safe haven and opportunities for change. Government and the community come together to place veterans in stable, permanent housing. HUD-VASH rental subsidies help pay for the rent and wraparound social services to ensure that veterans receive the care they need to get back on their feet. These resources are obtainable from the Department of Housing and Urban Development Veterans Affairs Supporting Housing (HUD-VASH) and through Supportive Services for Veterans and their Families (SSVF). The City is assisting with unit inspections to expedite unit availability and avoid unnecessary delays, while the DOL and VA help with employment counseling and opportunities.”

This year, the Office of Social Ministry of the Catholic Diocese, Catholic Charities and the Mayor’s Office of Housing hosted Veterans Stand Down events where over 200 homeless veterans were greeted, assessed and introduced to VA homeless programs, workforce development and job counseling, benefits, legal services, recovery providers, shelters and meals served by veterans service organizations, service clubs, local volunteers and businesses.

In addition to the Veteran Stand Down, Mayor Kirk Caldwell vowed to end veteran homelessness through Oahu communities. Through the “Heroes Housing Heroes” campaign, service providers and the City’s Office of Housing has housed 227 homeless veterans since the beginning of this year. According th Jun Yang, as outreach to property owners and landlords continues, more affordable rentals are needed to connect to services and housing for 55 more veterans. “We are fully committed to housing them by the end of this year,” said Yang. “If you have a unit available for rent to a veteran or to obtain more information, call (808) 768-7769.”

Heroes Housing Heroes is part of the Mayors Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness. In early 2015, Mayor Caldwell joined with other mayors across the country in the Mayors Challenge to support veterans whose service has protected our nation. For more information, visit www.honolulu.gov/heroeshousingheroes.