Thank you on behalf of the Stand Down Committee and needy veterans of our community.

Wisconsin Veterans Stand Down, Inc.
Post Office Box 17307
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53217-0307

What is a “Stand Down”?

     Many of our friends and comrades have been asking this question in the Milwaukee area in recent years so we will try to shed some light on the most recent application of this term.
      During a “Stand Down” soldiers are removed from the field of combat for rest and recreation. Homeless and at-risk veterans are not unlike soldiers in combat, living in the field (streets), surviving by their wits with limited rations and enduring very unfavorable living conditions. Every day they must continue to do battle. Their adversaries are lack of housing, unemployment, physical and emotional hardships and hopelessness.
      Today’s version of a “Stand Down” is designed and intended to bring a wide array of preexisting specializes resources together at one location and to provide a comprehensive therapeutic program to homeless and at-risk veterans that integrates employment, housing, medical, legal and a broad range of social services.
      Studies have concluded that veterans appear to be at-risk of homelessness for much the same reasons as other Americans. Socioeconomic structural factors have largely been responsible for the increased numbers of homeless people, personal vulnerabilities such as poverty and mental illness have influenced the type of individual that becomes at risk of homelessness. These studies also estimate that as many as 40% of the homeless men in America are combat trained veterans.

      The current “Stand Down” concept has six basic goals:

1. To provide a “hand-up”, not a “hand-out” for immediate relief from the trauma and stress of homelessness.
2. To provide access to services and assistance in the areas of employment, clothing, matters of hygiene, medical/dental exams etc.
3. To provide access to longer term solutions like Department of Veteran Affairs benefits, employment opportunities, medical/legal assistance and other social services.
4. To build and maintain long-term interagency and community working relationships.
5. To continue to raise community and state awareness of the plight of the homeless and at-risk veterans and to develop long term solutions.
6. To encourage and aid in the replication of this program in our community and other cities across this state and others.

Now that you have a better idea of the current application of the term “Stand Down” we are hoping you will join us in educating the public and help lessen, if not eliminate the plague that is infecting veteran’s and their families in our community.
 

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DO YOU KNOW A HOMELESS OR AN AT RISK VETERAN?

WISCONSIN VETERANS
STAND DOWN RALLY

WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY
4108 N. RICHARDS STREET
MILWAUKEE, WI 53211

7:00 A.M. UNTIL 4:00 P.M.

VETERANS HELPING VETERANS
-A HAND UP-NOT A HAND OUT-

-FEDERAL AND STATE VETERAN’S INFORMATION-
-DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT INFORMATION-
-EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION-
-FOOD-CLOTHING-SOCIAL SERVICES-

TOGETHER THEN-TOGETHER NOW

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
VETERAN JOB SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
COUNTY VETERAN SERVICE OFFICE (414) 278-4054
VETS PLACE CENTRAL (414) 342-5000
V.A. REGIONAL OFFICE (414) 382-5255
STAND DOWN VOICE MAIL (414) 454-9440
STAND DOWN TOLL FREE 1-800-792-0050

VETERANS PICK-UP POINTS LOCATED AT
MILWAUKEE PUBLIC LIBRARY/10TH WISCONSIN AVENUE
ALL MILWAUKEE PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCHES
KOSCIUSZKO COUNTY PARK
2201 SOUTH 7TH STREET
PICK-UP ONLY FROM 7:OO A.M. UNTIL 11:00 A.M.

PRINTING AND PUBLICATIONS BY UAW LOCAL 469 VETERANS COMMITTEE
WISCONSIN AFL/CIO-UAW VETERANS COUNCIL  W.S.BRAY V-CHR