The Veterans Administration Medical Center in Northeast and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric K. Shinseki,recently hosted the 16th annual Winterhaven Homeless Stand Down campaign to help hundreds of homeless and at risk Veterans in the DC metropolitan area.
The campaign served more than 350 people and dozens of agencies were on hand to provide services and referrals.
The ultimate goal of Veterans Administration (VA) is to end Veteran Homelessness by 2015. The VA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development made an announcement last month stating that homelessness among Veterans was reduced by nearly 12 percent between January 2010 and January 2011.
There is a long road ahead to totally eradicate homelessness among the veteran population, but outreach campaigns help spread the word of services being offered.
US Army Veteran Karen Jackson, 48, a first time participate, found the campaign rewarding and helpful. "The most important thing was for me was the women's health clinic because I met a group of people I can identify with," said Jackson.
