Local Veterans Affairs post assists homeless veterans

Thirty-eight veterans went to American Legion Post 18 Thursday for resources, information, medical treatment and, if they needed it, a haircut.

The post sponsored the second annual Stand Down, a combined effort by the Department of Veterans Affairs and community organizations to help veterans experiencing homelessness.

Any veteran with proper identification to establish veteran status had access to the barber’s chair, a free meal or a bag full of donated goods.

Steve Roberts, a veteran of the Army and Navy, said events like Stand Down are important not only because they provide meals and haircuts, but because they inform veterans about services available to them.

“Six or seven of my friends got help here last year for things like substance abuse,” Roberts said.

Brad Taylor, a veteran who served with the Navy, said although he currently lives with his brother, he was on the streets for five years.

“My son drowned,” Taylor said. “That made me want to get up on my feet. It’s great that these people are here. Without them, we wouldn’t know what sort of benefits we have.”

The IU School of Optometry was among the health services organizations in attendance and helped participants determine if they suffered from things like hypertension and diabetes.

“A good way to look at small blood vessels is through the eyes,” clinical assistant professor Todd Peabody said. “We can tell a lot that way.”

Peabody said systemic disease is a common problem among those experiencing homelessness.

Jim May, adjutant at the American Legion Post, said post-tramautic stress disorder is another common problem for veterans. He said because homeless veterans usually
suffer from PTSD, they avoid people and homeless shelters. That’s a problem for Stand Down organizers, because if homeless veterans do not go to a shelter, they are unlikely to hear about the event.

“This is the only event they’ll come to,” May said.

He said he estimates there are 75 to 200 homeless veterans in Monroe County.

He said because they avoid other people, veterans experiencing homelessness tend to live near railroads, under bridges and in wooded areas within city limits.

Rincon said although many homeless veterans didn’t come to Stand Down because they weren’t aware, others were too proud to attend.

“Homelessness may be seen as dishonorable,” Rincon said. “They don’t want to admit it.”