History of the Veterans Stand Down

“Stand Down” is a military term referring to an opportunity to achieve a brief respite from combat. Troops assemble in a base camp to receive new clothing, hot food, and a relative degree of safety before returning to the front. Today more than 160 organizations across the country partner with local businesses, government agencies, tribal governments, community, and faith-based service providers to hold Stand Down events in local communities for homeless veterans and their families.  They are collaborative events, coordinated between local VA Medical Centers, other government agencies and community-based homeless service providers.

Typically, services available at these events include temporary shelter, showers, haircuts, meals, clothing, hygiene care kits, medical examinations, immunizations, legal advice, state identification cards, veteran benefit information, training program information, employment services, and referral to other supportive services.

The Stand Down in Orange County was founded by Mrs. Deanne Tate, President of Veterans First.  The 4^th Annual OC Stand Down was held on September 26^th to the 28^th, 2014 at the Army Reserve Center in Tustin, CA.  The 3rd Annual OC Stand Down was held on September 27th to the 29th, 2013 at the Army Reserve Center in Tustin, CA.  The 2nd Annual OC Stand Down was held on August 17th to the 19th, 2012 at the Army Reserve Center in Costa Mesa, CA.  The 1^st Annual OC Stand Down was held in September, 2011 at Santa Ana College.

Content for this page was provided by:

Veterans Village of San Diego: http://www.vvsd.net/standdown.htm

National Coalition for Homeless Veterans: http://nchv.org/index.php/service/service/stand_down