ST. PETERSBURG, Fla – On Saturday, dozens of organizations got here collectively to assist homeless veterans get again on their toes.
The Bay Pines VA hosted their annual Stand Down for Homeless Veterans outreach occasion, supplying a whole lot of vets with important assets wanted to seek out housing, work and healthcare.
The Bay Pines VA hosted an annual occasion for homeless veterans.
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In response to the most recent knowledge nationwide, there are at the moment about 32,000 veterans experiencing homelessness. Rafael Riconeno was one among them.
“I used to be in San Diego nearly two years in the past and wound up dwelling in my automotive for 523 days. I staggered right here as a result of I had a voucher in California, however there was no leases so I got here right here and inside about 10 days I acquired off the streets, lastly,” Riconeno mentioned.
That was after Riconeno got here to the Bay Pines VA annual Stand Down for Homeless Veterans Outreach occasion.
It is the place greater than 75 group distributors and organizations come collectively to assist homeless veterans higher their lives.
“It actually does take a collective group. We can’t clear up homelessness simply us at VA. It actually takes each single one among our group companions to band collectively. It is actually a mission, proper, to resolve veteran homelessness,” Bay Pines VA Homeless Program Coordinator Blossom Kapper mentioned.
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Saturday, veterans had the chance to get assist with every part from job help to housing assets to well being companies like dental work and listening to aids. Additionally they have a particular stand down court docket with a Pinellas County choose, the place they will maintain any overdue fines or authorized hurdles, and a DMV sales space the place they will receive a driver’s license.
“Every one among them sacrificed their life for our nation. As a nation, we’ve to reply with much more than that. Simply love for them is definitely motion and motion is tips on how to present all of them the dignity and the help to have a good life that all of them deserve,” Bay Pines VA Interim Director and CEO Amin Elamin mentioned.
The Bay Pines VA hosted an annual occasion for homeless veterans.
The occasion comes at a time when many authorities departments are seeing cuts. It is one thing the Bay Pines VA has been retaining an in depth eye, however as of now they are saying it hasn’t been a priority.
“The employees work within the VA system are exempted from some other of these cuts, so we’ve full companies, medical service, administrative service, all devoted for our veterans, and that was not affected in any method,” Elamin mentioned.
In the meantime, Riconeno encourages any homeless veterans in want to achieve out and know assist is out there.
“Simply get down right here, and so they’ll begin the paperwork course of after which, in a method, they’re saving lives day-after-day, so simply come on in, and so they’ll aid you out,” Riconeno mentioned.
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The Supply: Info for this story was gathered by FOX 13’s Jordan Bowen.
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