Swords to Plowshares and Partners Host Oakland Stand Down
May 03 2024 - 11:00AM
Tomorrow, Swords to Plowshares, a local 50-year-old veterans’
nonprofit organization will co-host a “Stand Down in The Town”
event, which mirrors the military practice of service members
resting off duty during deployments. This event will connect
Oakland’s unhoused veteran population with 39 vendors offering
essential services in one place.
“We aim to create an
Oakland where no veteran is left behind,” says Mark Walker, Deputy
Director for East Bay Programs at Swords to Plowshares, “For 50
years, Swords has stepped up to address the needs of underserved
veterans. This event is a powerful step towards strengthening the
veteran community in Alameda County and we hope it inspires more
local leaders to address and prioritize the issues veterans are
facing here.” Along with event co-organizers, Alameda
County Veterans Affairs Commission and Laney College, Swords to
Plowshares will provide space for Oakland’s underserved veterans to
connect with services and resources specifically tailored to their
needs. In 2022, the PIT Count for homeless veterans in Alameda
County was 550, with 78% of them classified as unsheltered. “The
Stand Down in The Town” aims to engage this population in an
accessible setting that prioritizes their experiences as
veterans.
Resources provided will
include enrollment in housing services, employment, and healthcare;
onsite counseling and mental health resources; haircuts and free
showers; and free food including breakfast and lunch.
Stand Down in The
Town Saturday, May 4th, 2024 9:00AM to
3:00PM Laney College Gym 900 Fallon St Oakland, CA
94607 About Swords to Plowshares
Founded in 1974, Swords to Plowshares is a community-based
not-for-profit organization that provides counseling and case
management, rapid re-housing and eviction prevention services,
employment and training, supportive housing, and legal benefits
assistance for low-income, homeless and at-risk veterans in the San
Francisco Bay Area. Swords to Plowshares promotes and protects the
rights of veterans through advocacy, public education, and
partnerships with local, state and national entities. Learn more
about the work of Swords to Plowshares, and ways in which you can
help, by visiting our website at Swords to Plowshares
(swords-to-plowshares.org)
Katie Ettl
Swords to Plowshares
530-218-2147
katie.ettl@stp-sf.org