Veterns Information Officer, DMAVA
By G. Natasha Zoe

On Friday, September 21, beginning at 8 a.m., the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA) and Stand Down of South Jersey, Inc., will be co-hosting Stand Down 2001 at the Cherry Hill Interactive Community Resource Center (Armory.) DMAVA, along with many volunteers and civic organizations, is holding the Stand Down to provide homeless veterans with access to healthcare, mental health screening, substance abuse counseling, social services availability, religious counseling, a hot meal, a haircut and winter clothing. Stand Down’s ultimate goal is to show disenfranchised veterans that someone still cares and to assist them in bringing their homelessness to a close. 

This is the second year Stand Down has been held at the Cherry Hill Interactive Community Resource Center (Armory.) Prior to 2000, Stand Downs were held at Fort Dix and Naval Weapon Station Lakehurst. Last year 133 homeless veterans and their families attended the Stand Down. Three of the veterans were admitted directly to Veterans Haven (a transitional housing program for New Jersey’s homeless veterans.) 

“On any given night there are 341,000 veterans estimated to be homeless, up from 274,000 in 1995,” said Paul Sutton, Chief Homeless Veterans Services, DMAVA. “About one-third of the homeless in the United States have served in the Armed Forces. The number of homeless Vietnam veterans exceeds the number of servicemembers killed during that conflict. There are currently 7,000 homeless veterans in New Jersey.” 

Stand Down comes from the military term referring to exhausted combat units that were removed from the battle front to a place of security and safety for rest and recovery. Today Stand Downs are a grass-roots, community- based intervention program to help homeless veterans battle life on the streets. “The program has a philosophy of a hand up not a hand out,” explained John Ulrich of Stand Down of South Jersey, Inc. The first Stand Down was held in 1988 in San Diego. Today more than 80 are held annually to reach an estimated 100,000 homeless veterans. 

The organizations supporting Stand Down 2001 are DMAVA, Stand Down of South Jersey, Inc., the Veterans Administration, The Retired Officers Association, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Marine Corps League, American Ex-Prisoners of War, Veterans of Foreign War, Gold Star Wives, Jewish War Veterans, Burlington County Veterans Services Office, Camden County Veterans Services Office, Camden County Board of Social Services, Community Services of Camden County, U.S. Department of Labor, and the Fort Dix post chaplains. 

The Camden County Clerks Office along with the Camden County Department of Parks has donated the sanitation facilities. SYSCO Foods of Philadelphia and the Maple Shade Rotary Club have joined forces to provide the food, supplies and refrigeration needs for the Stand Down. 

“In our country’s time of need these fine men and women were willing to jeopardize their lives to defend our homes. Now in their time of need the community needs to work together to support and honor our local unsung heroes,” said Ellen McDowell, president of the Maple Shade Rotary. 

To donate goods or services for the Stand Down contact Stand Down of South Jersey, Inc. President Harry Ruhle at (856) 854-0149. 

For more information about this Stand Down call John Ulrich at (856) 795-5184.