Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center to host Homeless Veterans Stand Down
Sherman – The VA North Texas Health Care System Homeless Veterans Outreach program is partnering with Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center in Bonham, Salvation Army of Sherman and Four Rivers Outreach, Inc. to provide a stand down event for homeless veterans in the Texoma area. The event is scheduled September 20, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Four Rivers Outreach, Inc. located at 210 S. Rusk St. in Sherman. Homeless veterans are encouraged to attend and bring documentation when possible of their veteran status such as a letter, veterans photo ID, or military DD-214.
Various services will be provided, including education and resources on housing, mental health services, and health, education and disability benefit information. Flu shots and rapid HIV testing will also be offered. Lunch and donation items will be provided free to all homeless veterans. Free transportation is available by calling the local TAPS transportation vans at 1-800-256-0911 with reservations one day before.
The stand down motto, “Providing a hand up, not a hand out” is an opportunity for homeless veterans throughout the Texoma area to obtain resources to help in the fight to eliminate homelessness and for those at risk of becoming homeless.
“It is a time for the community to connect with the homeless population and address this crisis that affects each
and every town, city and state in the country,” said Tammy Wood, Health Care for Homeless Veterans program manager at VA North Texas Health Care System.An estimated 12 percent of America’s homeless adults are veterans, and VA has launched a campaign to eliminate homelessness among veterans by 2015. VA North Texas
Health Care System provides comprehensive homeless services for veterans, including compensated work therapy, supportive employment, residential rehabilitation treatment programs, transitional and permanent supportive housing, health care for homeless veterans outreach services in shelters, peer housing location assistance groups, call center for homeless veterans resources, and education and outreach events across North Texas to include homeless veteran stand downs, job and housing fairs. These programs are all designed to help the homeless Veteran combat life on the streets as well as provide tools and training to transition them from homelessness to independent community living.
For more information regarding the stand down event, contact Tammy Wood at 214-467-1863.
VA North Texas Health Care System serves over 111,000 patients each year, delivering over one million outpatient visits to veterans in 38 North Texas counties and two counties in southern Oklahoma.