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The Importance of Standdowns

By Jeanne Douglas

It is a well-established fact that individuals who serve in the military and particularly those who serve in combat are more at risk for homelessness, complex medical issues and mental health problems. In addition, veterans who come home from combat struggle to re-integrate themselves into the family, to remain employed, and to enjoy the social activities that were once an important part of their lives. The obvious common denominator is the experience of combat. There is little argument that we as a country must address the damage done to these men and women, but despite our best efforts, these problems persist. The Homeless Veterans Standdown is one of many ways to address the needs of homeless veterans. For 22 years, the Chicago Standdown has provided a unique opportunity for homeless veterans in our city to gather. Our mission is to provide homeless veterans a temporary respite from the stress of life on the streets, to make them aware of the many services available to them, and to honor their service to our country.

Standdowns began in 1988 in San Diego when Robert Van Keuren and Jon Nachison developed this model to replicate the practice in Vietnam of removing military personnel from the battlefield to a place of relative security for a chance to rest and refuel. Keuren and Nachison envisioned giving homeless veterans the same opportunity to rest and consider the possible opportunities open to them. While they certainly met this goal, they also spawned a movement across the country where Standdowns are held in all major cities and in many rural areas as well. These Standdowns each have their own unique flavor, but all are an attempt to match veterans in need with the growing number of resources available to them.

Standdowns are not government sponsored programs. While the Department of Veterans Affairs and other government agencies may participate in these events, they are independently run by community agencies and not-for-profits and funding is provided through grants and donations. It is an opportunity for volunteers, both veteran and not, to become involved in this issue. The Chicago Standdown is run by the non-profit, Chicago Veterans Economic Development Council. This not-for-profit is made up of VA employees, state employees, representation from veterans service organization and agencies, and veterans who simply participate because of their passion for the cause.

The Chicago Standdown offers medical, dental, and optical services. Veterans can see a podiatrist, have an oral cancer screen, get their blood pressure checked, and have an eye exam all in one day. Of course many of these services are available at the VA, but the charm of a Standdown is that you can access so much in so little time. Also at a Standdown, veterans can learn about housing resources, apply for their benefits, talk to employers, and see an attorney. Over 60 agencies were present in our resources area in 2015 and when veterans have soaked up as much information as they can handle, they can eat a good meal, get a haircut, and listen to some music. The obvious goal of a Standdown is to make all of these resources available to veterans in a convenient and efficient setting, but this is not the only thing that happens at a Standdown. Below are some less obvious advantages to a Standdown.

First, Veterans who come to a Standdown have not necessarily felt honored for their service. They are unlikely to have attended a reunion of their unit or kept track of buddies from this time in their lives. A Standdown provides that opportunity. Early in the morning on the first day of a Standdown, veterans come from every direction. They walk in, they ride the bus, someone drops them off — but they make their way to it. Veterans greet veterans with enthusiasm — with exchanges about units served in, friendly rivalry about branches of service, and fond stories of the people they served with and sometimes lost. Veterans at a Standdown are reminded of who they were when they served their country. They remember a time when they were productive, competent, respected. They remember when what they did every day was vitally important. Veterans who come to a Standdown from all corners of our city stand a little straighter and maybe think a little straighter when they remember the strengths, the stamina and spirit that made them successful service members. This interior change may be necessary before a veteran can tackle the hard work of changing the exterior problems in their lives.

Second, Standdown provides an opportunity for veterans to come as volunteers and reach out to their fellow comrades. Veterans helping veterans is a key feature of a Standdown. The Chicago Standdown sees about 700 to 800 veterans over two days. With the addition of agency representatives and volunteers, we may have as many as 1,000 people in motion. Given that we are working in borrowed and temporary space, we are constantly presented with problems to solve. Veterans bring ingenuity and a resourceful spirit to the task at hand that is invaluable. Veteran volunteers may repair a generator, design a more efficient food service system, build a ramp for the wheel chairs, or stand for hours passing out socks. Just as important veteran volunteers may sit and talk with a participant, listen to an angry veteran, or reminisce about old times. At one Standdown, a homeless veteran came in intoxicated, belligerent and demanding. His behavior could have spelled trouble in the crowd, but a group of veteran volunteers surrounded him. They were not hostile or punitive, but offered a kind of hug that immediately calmed the situation. Because of the compassionate response of veteran volunteers, this veteran was able to retreat a bit, sober up and actually use the services offered to him. This is just one of many examples of the way veteran volunteers make Standdowns successful.

Finally, there are countless agencies that offer a wide variety of services to veterans. It is difficult to keep track of the ever growing and ever changing resources available. A Standdown brings together a wide variety of providers that will use at least part of their day to learn more from each other. The exchange of business cards is not just a formality. They will be far more effective at their job if they know individuals in agencies to call when they are seeking a service for a veteran in front of them.

So Standdowns are big chaotic events that can take on a life of their own. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the numbers and the "busyness" of it all. If you attend a Standdown you will see a lot of obvious activity, the distribution of clothing, a haircut, a meal or a new pair of glasses. But be aware there is far more than this going on. We are also offering respect, hope and a moment to pause and consider the possibilities. The real gift of a Standdown is the connections that people make with one another.

Jeanne Douglas is team leader of the Oak Park Illinois Vet Center and a co-coordinator of the homeless veterans' standdowns in Chicago.