Sarah Brown
For The New Era
Community Services Consortium hosted its second annual Mid Valley Stand Down for Homeless Veterans at the River Center in Lebanon on Nov. 3.
This year 76 veterans came to the event to obtain information and free services, and to fellowship with other veterans.
In all, 40 businesses, organizations and individuals were on hand to help veterans get all the help they may need in one central location, said Scott McKee, veteran eligibility clerk at CSC.
Some veterans got free haircuts, dental services and hot showers while others got assistance with housing, health care and benefits.
“Survival gear such as tents, sleeping bags, gloves, and duffel bags were handed out to veterans who were homeless, and many items of clothing and hygiene supplies were donated and given out free to veterans and their families,” said Dina Eldridge, CSC housing services manager.
Clemens Kramer, a veteran who served 12 years in the Army, was medically retired from the service and started using drugs after he returned home.
“I thought my social security was gone, I thought I ruined it,” Kramer said. “I thought my VA benefits were ruined because of my drug use and not contacting or doing anything.”
At the stand down, Kramer learned his VA benefits stayed intact, and that he had back pay available from social security, he said.
“I was like, wait a minute, I was living in my mom’s car for the last year and I have money?”
Kramer also connected with HUD-VASH, a program that will help him get an apartment.
According to the U.S. Department of Human Services website, the “HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program combines Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.”
As of the date of the stand down, Kramer said he had been clean 172 days and was thinking about returning to school.
Veterans also helped out at the event.
Mike Aaron, founder of Link Up Vets in Lebanon, helped veterans get clothing and equipment in the DOD (Department of Defense) room.
Aaron served as a Marine for four years and started Link Up Vets to help connect veterans.
Free services at this year’s stand down included medical and dental assistance, employment services, housing services, alcohol and drug treatment, VA outreach, legal aid, HUD-VASH, DOD gear, haircuts, hot showers, lunch, and free tools and pet food.
Hot breakfast was supplied by The Point Restaurant, Sugar Vibes Donuts, and lunch from Backyard BBQ, James Gang Pizza, and the Lebanon Subway was provided.
“No one went away hungry, and leftovers were given to the local shelters,” Eldridge said.