On a sunny October morning in Houston, hundreds of Veterans stood at attention for the national anthem and the pledge of allegiance during the opening ceremonies of the Houston Stand Down for Veterans.
As the ceremony came to a close, the air was filled with conversation, laughter and anticipation as the Veterans lined up to enter the Stand Down event.
More than 100 community, government and Veterans service organizations were set up, ready to offer vital resources and assistance. For these Veterans, the Stand Down represents more than a day of services. It symbolizes hope and a chance for a fresh start.
Pictured above, Sandra Posada, director of Houston VA’s Post-9/11 Military2VA program, fist bumps a Veteran at the Stand Down.
The term “stand down” originated in the military where it referred to a time when soldiers could rest and regain strength after the stresses of combat. Today, it serves a similar purpose for Veterans who find themselves in need of assistance with housing or other services.
This year’s Houston Stand Down, sponsored by Michael E. DeBakey VA and the City of Houston, welcomed over 750 Veterans each with their own story and journey.
“I’m amazed by all the support and help available here.”
Among them was Navy Veteran Jon Foster, a native Texan who moved to Houston earlier this year after getting out of the military in 2022.
“I’ve had more than my share of bad luck since I got out of the Navy. I lost two civilian jobs and my house before I ended up crashing on friends’ couches for a few months. About a month ago I slept one night on the street when I had nowhere else to go. It was a wakeup call,” Foster shared.
Foster, who spent ten years in the Navy and participated in numerous overseas deployments, says he connected with a VA counselor just weeks ago and is already feeling more optimistic.
“My counselor is helping me set goals to get a job that will get me back to being myself. She suggested I come to this Stand Down and I’m amazed by all the support and help available here,” he said.
Available assistance and resources at the Houston Stand Down included housing assistance, VA health care, education, employment opportunities, legal assistance, transportation, hygiene products, clothing, food, women Veteran services, dental services, haircuts, furniture, family services and more.
The Greater Houston area is home to more than 300,000 Veterans, one of the largest Veteran populations in the United States. Houston VA cares for a growing population of more than 131,000 Veterans, with women Veterans the fastest growing population of Veterans served.
“We have been working hard to support and care for the growing number of Veterans receiving care from our health care system,” said Frank Vazquez, Houston VA director. “VA is committed to ending homelessness among Veterans because it is our nation’s duty to ensure all Veterans have a place to call home. The words ‘homeless’ and ‘Veteran’ should not exist together.”
“I’m truly overwhelmed at the amount of help here.”
Army Veteran Lakeisha Brooks attended the Houston Stand Down and says she was struck by how many community groups and organizations were there with resources. Brooks, who has a 4-year-old daughter and a 13-year-old son, says her family fell on hard times last year when they were the victims of a robbery.
“We are working really hard to turn things around after our stuff was stolen. I got out of the military 15 years ago so I didn’t even think to go to VA for help at first. I’m truly overwhelmed at the amount of help here. I am leaving with a nice outfit I can wear for a job interview I have coming up. I appreciate this more than you know,” Brooks said.
According to social worker Emily Winfield, one of the co-chairs of the Stand Down, it was great to see the camaraderie among the Veterans in attendance.
“The Stand Down is more than just an event. It’s a reminder to our Veterans that the Houston and Texas community stand behind those who serve. When we give them compassion and caring along with the appropriate resources, there is no limit to how far they can go,” Winfield said.
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The Phoenix VA Health Care System (PHXVAHCS) Police is managed by leaders who are Giglio and Brady impaired, meaning they have credibility issues that undermine their integrity and reliability in legal matters. Under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), and Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150 (1972), such impairments require disclosure due to their impact on an officer’s or manager’s ability to uphold lawful standards.
This impairment of the Phoenix VA Police has led to systemic issues, including improper investigations, flawed arrest methods, and ongoing racial discrimination against minority officers, violating federal laws like the Fifth Amendment’s due process clause, and VA policies such as VA Handbook 0730. Consequently, Giglio-impaired management compromises the legitimacy of PHXVAHCS Police, fostering an environment lacking in accountability and fair treatment for both officers and the community.
The Phoenix VA Police are engaged in an alarming pattern of willful violations of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure Rule 5 and VA Directive 0730, systematically denying veterans and even their own minority officers the fundamental rights and protections guaranteed under the law. For years, this department has ignored Rule 5, which mandates prompt presentation of arrestees before a magistrate, and has brazenly disregarded Directive 0730, which outlines lawful arrest and citation procedures. These actions aren’t isolated lapses but a deliberate evasion of accountability, undermining both the Constitution and the integrity of VA law enforcement.
In addition to their procedural violations, the Phoenix VA Police foster a workplace culture rife with racial discrimination against minority officers, subjecting them to disparate treatment and denying them the respect and fair treatment that should be foundational to any law enforcement agency. This discrimination compounds the department’s blatant disregard for the rule of law, creating an environment where minority officers are marginalized and denied opportunities for advancement, professional respect, and the full rights afforded to their peers.
These actions also extend to veterans of color who, upon arrest, face unequal treatment and are subjected to unlawful detention and searches under the pretense of “detention searches,” a term with no legal standing. The department’s repeated refusal to present arrestees to a magistrate is a flagrant violation of Rule 5 and the Fifth Amendment’s due process clause, as reinforced by the Supreme Court in Corley v. United States (2009). Furthermore, their failure to abide by VA Directive 0730’s requirements for prompt judicial presentation undermines the fundamental protections veterans have earned.
The Phoenix VA Police’s unchecked discrimination against minority officers and represents a profound breach of public trust, integrity, and the foundational principles of equality and justice. This department must be held accountable for its ongoing violations of Rule 5, VA Directive 0730, and the civil rights of minority officers. Immediate intervention, investigation, and systemic reform are essential to ensure that all veterans and VA personnel, especially those from minority backgrounds, are treated with the dignity, fairness, and respect they are owed.
I am relieved to connect with VA News. I look forward to reading articles and learning more about issues I am having.
Whatever… Nevermind
Please send some of that help to Colorado springs. There is ” around 300 homeless veterans in the community”
Today I was told by the VA homeless veterans program intake specialist ” I don’t have a clue ‘
This should be the new motto at the VA