East Texas stand down helps homeless Veterans

Air Force Veteran Robert Nathaniel spent a year homeless on the streets of Dallas. The former aircraft structural maintenance specialist kept his family in the dark about his situation.

“I was too proud to get help from my family. Once I found out VA could help me, it was a game changer for my situation,” he shared.

Nathaniel is one of 40,400 formerly homeless Veterans who were housed by VA programs in 2022. VA programs like Health Care for Homeless Veterans engage with communities via their Stand Down for Homeless Veterans events to target chronically homeless Veterans.

They especially target those with serious mental health diagnoses, substance use disorders and provide outreach, case management and community based residential services to Veterans in need.

Pictured above, Jose Cabrera-Fuentes, peer support specialist with North Texas VA, helps Veteran Robert Nathaniel try on new shoes and boots at stands down.

Partnered with 12 East Texas organizations

The recent Stands Down in Tyler, Texas, partnered with 12 East Texas area organizations to bring services to 70 current and formerly homeless Veterans during a day-long community event.

“I have seen more times than not that Veterans and communities are unaware of the services that could truly change Veteran lives,” said Ashley McLaurin, social worker with North Texas VA. “We aim to eliminate that barrier here in Tyler by building relationships within the community and by raising awareness of what VA offers.”

Homeless Veteran stands down like the one in Tyler offer more than a new pair of boots, duffle bag full of cold weather gear and clothes, or a bite to eat. These events offer the chance to connect with community organizations that can help Veterans secure housing and reconnect to their communities.

One such organization is CampV, a Veteran non-profit in Tyler, an area that often lacks the access to many Veteran resources like the much larger Dallas and Fort Worth communities of North Texas.

By partnering with VA, CampV can acquire and make deals with other services and organizations from all over the nation to bring Veterans of East Texas the best help they can find them.  

“Our hope is that these stands down not only bring awareness to our community about our available resources but to also connect Veterans to people and services that help them overcome their current adversities,” said Travis Gladhill, CampV executive director and Air Force Veteran. “Partnering with VA and the community is how we are going to achieve this.”

The goal of stand down programs is to reach and engage all homeless Veterans who are disconnected or under-connected to critical medical and mental health services, community support and most importantly, appropriate housing solutions. Without the help of the community and organizations like CampV, these goals would be unachievable. For more information about VA’s comprehensive efforts to end Veteran homelessness, visit VA.gov/homeless.