VA Hosts Delaware Veteran’s Stand Down and Employment Expo

DOVER, Del.– Since 2009 the Delaware veteran’s stand down and employment expo in Dover has been a free one stop event that offers outreach services, employment assistance, and other resources from one hundred and twenty vendors for veterans and their families.

Director of the veterans awareness center Liz Byers-Jiron says they started the event to take care of the homeless veterans.

Byers-Jiron says that homelessness is still one of the biggest challenges veterans face today.

“Let’s say affordable housing that’s a number one challenge,” Byers-Jiron said. “We were able to combat that problem back in 2015 when we started taking mobile homes from park owners that just wanted to get rid of the homes.” “Now we have mobile homes that are quite old but they are still usable,” Byers-Jiron said.

A stand down in the veteran community is a community based intervention where homeless and at-risk veterans can receive basic necessities in a supportive environment.

Homeless Program Director of the Wilmington VA says a stand down helps veterans transition back into society a little easier.

“It initially started for homeless veterans where they could come get a meal, get a shower, get a haircut and just take a break from everyday life,” Favors said.  “It’s another way they can get resources to be able to move on to another part of their life.”

United States Navy Veteran Lisa Smith says that this event is near to her heart.

“Oh it’s a beautiful thing,” Smith said. “I get my flu shot here every year and this place is where all of my fellow veterans, my clients, and my peers everybody is right here.”

From employment opportunities to health and community resources organizer’s say today’s event is about making sure veterans know they don’t have to navigate these challenges alone.