Streetvibes October 2005 Edition

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October 2005

STREETVIBES Standdown Serves Record Number of Homeless People by Kelly Carr “Standdown” is a military term that refers to a time of rest for armed forces in combat. The grassroots initiative aimed at meeting the needs of the homeless veterans’ crisis, Stand Down, originated in 1988 by two Vietnam veterans Robert Van Keuren and Dr. John Nachison. Since 1988, Stand Down events have gained popularity throughout the United States. In cities like Cincinnati, Stand Down services have expanded to include low income and other homeless populations in addition to homeless veterans. This year, Cincinnati’s Standdown was September 16th, from 9am to 2pm in Washington Park. The event offered free food and services to an estimated 600 participants. Many social service providers, event organizers, and participants had positive responses to what might be one of the best Stand Down events Cincinnati has seen in years. This year’s Standdown was exceptionally successful Participants received information about housing, Social Security, legal assistance, and information about chemical addiction and mental health. There were opportunities for participants to receive blood sugar screenings, blood pressure checks, haircuts, dental care, clothing, hygiene products, and immediate medical treatment if necessary. A variety of services in one central area made it easy for an individual to have all their needs met in one place. For example Jimmy, a participant, needed mental health assistance, legal assistance, and housing; usually would have spent an entire day or more contacting all the agencies necessary to serve him. However, because of the variety of social service providers at this year’s Standdown, Jimmy could conveniently see each agency just tables away. “I think this is one of the best Standdowns in years,” says David Knoll, Organizing Committee Chairman. “We’ve had a record number turnout of social service providers and I hope that the participants take full advantage of the social services available here today.” Not only did they take advantage of the social services but they also took advantage of the boxed lunches, complementary gifts, disco music and corn-hole. Low income and homeless persons were making connections and telling heart felt stories as they were leaving. Participants had good things to say about the event Edward had this to say, “This year was the first in fifteen years that I have been homeless again and today was the first time in ten years that I cried. I’m speechless. I’m looking at a two bedroom on Monday and their helping me to get furniture. I am speechless.” Participants were being matched with the services they needed all day. Goodwill was taking job applications and a few individuals actually had employment lined up for them by the time they left. One participant had this to say as he played a quick game of corn-hole, “I think it’s great y’all out here helping the community. Y’all are helping me. I’m meeting with a worker next week to see about getting me some housing. I think this here is wonderful, helping people get what they need, y’all should have this twice or three times a year ‘cause people need this all year.” He stopped playing for a minute to show off his gifts and he seemed genuinely tickled with his hygiene bag and new tooth brush. Another participant had this to say as he shyly danced to D.J. Andy Glover’s electric slide, “I’m glad that this is here and that workers are checking on people. I was pretty excited when they told me my blood pressure was just fine and you know what? I’m having a good time, a good time.” Stand Down Saves Lives Some participants had no idea they were in such poor health. Talk around the blood pressure and blood sugar screening tables made that obviously clear, as people were checked and then taken to the Cincinnati Health Network’s medical van for immediate treatment. For example, one individual’s blood sugar was 422 high and another individual’s blood pressure was 170 over 140; both were immediately taken to the med van for further examination and treatment. Lynn Kilbane, a service provider with Hamilton County TB control noted, “There are a lot of people here today that either need immediate medical attention or need information on attaining medical treatment. Also, this is an opportunity for service providers to get a real sense of the homeless population’s needs. We have veteran workers, retired nurses, and nursing students volunteering and learning more about better ways of caring for Cincinnati’s homeless.”

“Cornhole” at the Standdown

photo by Kelly Carr

Now more than Ever An estimated 25,000 Cincinnatians qualify as homeless and those are individuals who are catalogued in Cincinnati’s Homeless Management Information System; that does not include individuals who have yet to contact a shelter for assistance. This year at Standdown it was easy to see the rise in low income and homeless populations, as the 550 lunch boxes were quickly distributed and more than fifty others stood waiting and wanting “We were short of lunches, meaning we were a hundred over last year’s count of five hundred participants. That’s 600 hundred folks waiting in line for a hot meal,” says Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless’ Executive Director Georgine Getty. Scores of participants received services, treatment, and information. Some folks danced and played games while more were arriving as the event closed down. The event only lasted from 9am to 2pm and there were complaints from individuals who missed the event because they were just returning to the shelter from day labor agencies. One day labor worker threw his hands up asking, “You’re leaving? I just got here. What did y’all do today? Are you coming back tomorrow?” Unfortunately that day labor worker will have to wait ‘til next year for another Standdown event. Until then he and others will go agency to agency for the variety of services they need and hopefully he and others will feel just as satisfied even without the electric slide or the corn-hole.

DJ Andy Glover serves up music at the Standdown

Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless


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Streetvibes October 2005 Edition by Streetvibes Newspaper - Issuu