CLEARLAKE >> When it came time for the second annual Stand Down outreach event for veterans this week, a lot of people stood up to salute and support them.
About 160 veterans, many of them homeless, took part in the second annual Lake and Mendocino County Veterans Stand Down/Resource Fair Wednesday and Thursday at American Legion Post 437 in Clearlake. Nearly as many volunteers, most who are veterans themselves, staffed the event along with representative from various government, private sector and non-profit agencies.
One of those volunteers was Stephen Schwartz, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2337 in Clearlake.
“I just came by to see if they needed any help,” Schwartz said. “Vets help and support each other. It’s extremely important on many levels, from homeless vets to those with families.”
There was special emphasis at the outreach event on meeting the needs of homeless veterans, including providing sleeping bags, sleeping mats, winter coats, clothing and shoes, all donated to the event and all were free to veterans, as were all goods and services at the outreach.
“I’m on the verge of being homeless,” said Liz Taft, 40, a Navy veteran from Clearlake who attended last year’s outreach event. “I’m getting a lot of information and finding out new stuff that I didn’t know about.”
Taft, like many vets at the event, has a dislike or distrust of the Veterans Affairs Administration (VA). This group believe that the VA and other government agencies have been woefully inadequate in responding in a timely manner to the problems and needs of veterans. This is especially true in medical and mental health care, government benefits, and homelessness.
“The system just takes too long to get housing, medical services and help in dealing with PTSD,” Taft added.
PTSD — Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome — is a term frequently used by veterans at the Stand Down. In World War I it was known as shell shock and in World War II as battle fatigue.
“If you’ve ever got shot at, there’s a good chance you have PTSD,” said Frank Parker, president of United Veterans Council of Lake County, outreach event organizer.
Marty Kurtz, 71, a Navy veteran from Clearlake, isn’t homeless but is just a step away from it, couch surfing on friends’ sofas and floors. She found the main item she was looking for at the event: a sleeping bag, along with bedding. She said she expects to get her own place this week.
“This is a very nice event,” Kurtz said. “I’ve never had the need for help before, but suddenly I have the need.”
Former U.S. Navy Corpsman Doc Rhodes, 45, of Clearlake, came to the event both as a volunteer and client.
“I do some volunteer work to help out in exchange for some goodies,” he said. The goodies included a backpack, sleeping bag and clothing. “It’s pretty important because we have all these booths that offer almost everything for veterans.”
The Stand Down also serves as an inspiration for veterans to develop their own solutions to unmet needs. Taft, for instance, is now getting treatment for her PTSD and is trying to start a veterans support group for women.
Marine Corps veteran Lionel Newman, 58, of Clearlake came to last year’s Stand Down and was back this year.
“I’m able to get the different services I need, especially legal and medical,” Newman said. “I have issues with a disability.”
Like many other veterans at the outreach event, Newman said he “feels disappointed” with the VA and how they mistreat veterans.
Agencies participating in the outreach included the California Department of Veterans Affairs, Family Resource Center, Haircuts by Mary King of the Willits Community Center, Mission Dental, Sutter Lakeside Hospital and Yuba Community College.
“The purpose is to have the resource providers in one place in one day,” Parker said. “And if you don’t finish the first day, you can come back the next.”
Parker is the driving force behind the outreach, along with help from his wife, Suzie. He doesn’t keep it a secret why he does it.
“I’m a veteran and I’ve been on the verge of being homeless way back when and this event is the right thing to do,” he said.
In 2016, the Veterans Stand Down/Resource Fair is scheduled to move to bigger quarters at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport.
