www.venturacountystanddown.com

The nineteenth annual VenturaCounty Stand Down will take place July 29, 30 & 31, 2011, and will be heldat the California Army National Guard Armory in Ventura. The purpose of thiseffort is to assist veterans break out of the cycle of homelessness. Veterans in the Counties of Ventura, SantaBarbara, San Luis Obispo, and Los Angeles will participate this year.

Stand Down refers to agrassroots, community-based intervention program designed to help the veteranswho are homeless “combat” life on the streets. The hand up philosophy of Stand Down is carried out through the work ofhundreds of volunteers and organizations who truly demonstrate the Americanspirit of volunteerism on behalf of veterans who are homeless. They demonstratethat ordinary people can do extraordinary things in assisting veterans becomeproductive citizens of the community. Elton Gallegly, Congressman, 24th District,has been honorary co-chair of this event for 19 consecutive years.

During the three-day,two-night effort, veterans will live on campus in military-style tents erectedby the Seabees and have access to shower facilities, toiletries, new and used cleanclothing, hot meals, etc. each day. Working in conjunction with dozens of public and private agencies StandDown 2011 will provide homeless veterans with a myriad of services such asmedical treatment, legal services, prescription lenses, employment counselingand referrals, VA benefits, drug and alcohol counseling, general reliefinformation, transitional housing information, along with a range of othergovernment and social services. Inaddition, a Superior Court will be held on Friday afternoon, July 29, whereveterans will be given an opportunity to adjudicate their pending legal casesbefore a volunteer judge who, in lieu of fine or jail time, order veterans toparticipate in community service at the Stand Down site. One of the many success stories of Stand Downare those veterans who were homeless return year after year as volunteers toassist other fellow veterans.

Claire Hope, Founder &Chairperson for 19 consecutive years, is a 17-year resident of Camarillo whosefather was a WWII veteran, husband is a WWII and Korean veteran, and her son isa Persian Gulf Veteran.

Those veterans whopre-register at various social service agencies facilitate their entrance intothe Stand Down event.