Operation Stand Down Tennessee

OPERATION STAND DOWN TENNESSEE (OSDTN) ENGAGES, EQUIPS, AND EMPOWERS MILITARY VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH CRISIS, CAREER, AND CONNECTION SERVICES.

VETERAN SERVICE CENTER - IN 2021, OSDTN WELCOMED AND SUPPORTED VETERANS 8,916 TIMES THROUGH THE SERVICE CENTER BY ASSISTING WITH PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NEEDS, BENEFITS COUNSELING, LEGAL ISSUES, RELIABLE MAIL SERVICE, MILITARY RECORDS RETRIEVAL TRANSPORTATION, CLOTHING, FOOD, PERSONAL CARE ITEMS, AND REFERRALS TO APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY AGENCIES. AS PART OF THE SERVICE CENTER, 300 VETERANS & SURVIVING SPOUSES RECEIVED ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR VA BENEFITS. THE EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT OFFERED JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE, COMPUTER TRAINING, RESUME DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING WORKSHOPS, INTERVIEW PREPARATION, AND BUDGET COUNSELING HELPING 402 VETERANS FIND OR UPGRADE THEIR EMPLOYMENT. THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT PROVIDED 477 HOMELESS OR ATRISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH WORKSHOPS, RESOURCES, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM (THP) - IN 2021, OSDTN PROVIDED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR 137 MEN AND WOMEN VETERANS DEALING WITH CONTROLLING ISSUES WHO HAVE ASKED FOR HELP. THP HAS SEVEN HOMES, TWO FOR WOMEN (7 BEDS) AND FIVE FOR MEN (35 BEDS). VETERANS IN THE PROGRAM RECEIVE PROFESSIONAL CASE MANAGEMENT ON A 1:10 RATIO, LEARNING TO REESTABLISH A RESPONSIBLE LIFESTYLE, CONTRIBUTE TO THE UPKEEP OF A HOME IN A NEIGHBORHOOD, CREATE AN INDIVIDUAL BUDGET AND SAVINGS PLAN, LIVE WITH OTHER VETERANS IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT, GAIN EMPLOYMENT AND SUCCESSFUL WORK HABITS, PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, AND DEVELOP HEALTHY INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS. OF THE 137 VETERANS IN THE HOUSES, 61% MOVED INTO PERMANENT HOUSING.

12TH AVENUE THRIFT SHOP OSDTN OPERATED THE THRIFT STORE NEXT TO THE VETERAN SERVICE CENTER, PROVIDING ONTHEJOB TRAINING FOR VETERANS WHO WANT TO LEARN THE RETAIL INDUSTRY. ADDITIONALLY, THE STORE SERVED AS A CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS RESOURCE FOR THE VETERANS IN NEED OF EMPLOYMENT OR MOVING INTO PERMANENT HOUSING. THE STORE WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL AUGUST 27, 2021. UNTIL THAT TIME, THE STORE OFFERED QUALITY, USED CLOTHING, FURNITURE AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AT REASONABLE PRICES.

CALL SIGN CONNECT WAS LAUNCHED IN 2020 TO FORMALIZE OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, AND CONNECTION AMONG VETERANS. CSC PROVIDES EVENTS, MEETUPS, ACTIVITIES, ONLINE COMMUNICATION, AND PARTNER ENGAGEMENT TO GIVE VETERANS A CHANCE TO BECOME A PART OF A STRONGER, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY OF PEERS. 776 VETERANS WERE REACHED WITH OUTRECH SERVICES; 11,211 WERE CONNECTED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.AFTERCARE IS A VA GRANT- FUNDED POST-COMPLETION CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FOR VETERANS WHO COMPLETE THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM AND GRADUATE TO PERMANENT HOUSING. THE ADDITION OF AFTERCARE HAS EXPANDED RESOURCES FOR VETERANS FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS AFTER ENTERING PERMANENT HOUSING. SUPPORT SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES (SSVF) IS BROAD VA-FUNDED GRANT PROGRAM FOR VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES RESIDING IN OR TRANSITIONING TO PERMANENT HOUSING. WE PROVIDE A RANGE OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE VETERAN FAMILIES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE HOUSING STABILITY.