Scenes from the Homeless Veterans Stand Down Friday, June 14, at Metro Health Park’s Granger Green. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

It was no coincidence that the Community Rebuilders veterans assistance group was distributing a truckload of military surplus equipment suitable for urban camping, nor that the Wyoming-Grandville VFW Post 702 Auxiliary was distributing piles of clothing suitable for life on the street, at the Homeless Veterans Stand Down in Wyoming last week.

While not solely for homeless veterans, it was clear that many of about 200 veterans are currently or have been homeless as they lined up for services Friday, June 14, at Metro Health Park’s Granger Green. The event brought together nearly 50 organizations in an event sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Metro Health/University of Michigan Health.

The services offered ranged from basic food and shelter needs, to physical and mental health, to job and education services — all programs and community partners welcomed by Metro Health.

“This is our third or fourth year hosting it and we have just been honored by so many people in the community who are supporting the event for these veterans who have put their lives on the line many, many times over again for our freedom, and we are so honored to give back in a small way,” Michelle Rademacher, Metro Health community outreach specialist, said to WKTV. Metro Health/UM Health’s involvement “is important because these are members of our community and we are a community-based hospital and we want everyone to feel welcome here.”

Among the groups in attendance were the federal and Michigan based Veterans Affairs representatives as well as the Social Security Administration, the State of Michigan Veterans Employment Services and the Grand Valley State University Upward Bound veterans education assistance program, Trilogy Health Services and the Mental Health Advocacy Council, and veterans community organizations including American Legion posts and Team Red, White and Blue.

“A lot of these veterans don’t even know there is a VFW and that they can join,” Ron Oakes, commander of VFW Post 702, said to WKTV. “We do things like this for exposure, to let veterans know we are out there … (and) … that we are here to help the veterans.”

Coincidentally, Oakes’ VFW post itself is currently without a permanent home.

“We used to have a building, but not now,” Oakes said. “But we are still here and we are still looking for one.”

The veterans seeking goods and services had to produce proof of veterans status via a DD214, or valid state or military identification.

Veterans who were not able to be at the stand down can seek assistance by, among many sources, visiting the Kent County Veterans Services office at accesskent.com .

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